4 SINCIIXt; lUUD.S — OSCINKS. 



Turdus nanus, Audlbox. 



THE DWAEF THRUSH. 



Tunlus nanus, Adduhon, Orn. Biogr. V. I8;i9, 201 , pi. 419.— In. Birds Anicr. III. 1841, 32 ; pi. 

 147. (Columbia KivcT.) — G.vmukl, I'r. A. N. Sc. I. 1843, 202. — B-UUD, P. H. Hep. 

 IX. Birds, 213. — IIkkioi.vxx, X. vi. 45. — Baikd, Rev. N. A. Birds, June, 1864, IC. 



Sp. Cn.\it. Above light olive-brown, passing into reddish on the upper coverts and 

 tail, slightly' also on the wings. Beneath white, with a pale butt' tinge on the fore part ot" 

 breast and sometimes of thi-oat ; distinctly defined triangular dusky spots on the sides 

 of throat and across the breast, sides of breast with less distinct and more rounded S250ts 

 posteriorly. Sides glossed with bluish ash. Tail with a purple tinge. Fourth quill 

 longest. Length, G.oO inches; extent, 10; wing, 3.30; tail, 2.90; tarsus, 1.1 o. Iris 

 brown, bill brown, lower mandible yellowish flesh-color at base, feet pale brown. 



JIab. Pacific slope of North America, and along valley of Gila to El Paso. North to 

 Fort Crook (about hit. 41°), south to Cape St. Lucas. Rocky Mountains to Fort Bridger. 



I saw but few of this species in the Colorado valley, where they seem to 

 remain only for the winter, as I observed none after April 1st. Most of 

 them winter in the same parts of the State in which they sj)end the summer, 

 chiefly south of San Francisco. They are shy and timid, preferring tlie dark, 

 shady thickets, and rarely venturing far from them except in the twiliglit, 

 their large eyes being suited for seeing in dark places. They feed chiefly on 

 the ground, running rapidly, and searching for insects among the leaves and 

 herbage, but not scratching for them. Probably, also, they feed on berries, 

 like others of the family. 



About the 25th of Ajiril they liegin to sing near San Diego, the song con- 

 sisting of a few low ringing notes, like those of "Wilson's Thrush of tlie East, 

 and T. iisfulatus of the North, but not so loud. Their usual note of alarm is 

 a single chirp, sometimes loud and ringing, repeated and answered by others 

 for a long distance. 



