174 



hardiest of their family, but the following extract from my note book 

 will show that, by a premature migration northward, they are some- 

 times exposed to sudden inclemency of weather, and suffer severely : — 



"■April 28th, 1874. Last night we had a heavy fall of snow and sleet. 

 The Hermit Thrushes, Blackbirds, etc., have become so reduced by 

 hunger and cold, that they come quite freely into the house and stable. 

 A number of species were captured in the kitchen and barn, as fol- 

 lows : Turdus pallasi, Spizella socialis, S. monticola, Junco hyemalis, 

 Melospiza melodia, and Agekeus phcenicens." 



Though not a timid bird, the Hermit Thrush generally selects soli- 

 tary abodes. If these are invaded by man, its actions betoken more 

 of curiosity, than alarm. Late in October, 1877, while walking from 

 here to New York city, in company with my friend, Mr. I. F. Lock- 

 wood, we were induced by a sudden deluge of rain to seek shelter 

 beneath some hemlocks, near Tarrytown ; there we were highly enter- 

 tained by the quaint manners of a Hermit, that had chosen that dimly 

 lighted spot for its residence, and that seemed by no means pleased to 

 make our acquaintance ; showing its resentment at our ill-mannered 

 intrusion upon its privacy by repeating, in a complaining tone, its 

 single "chuck" ; occasionally alighting close beside us, it would give 

 a sharp, almost spiteful emphasis to its utterance ; then it would fly 

 away, and return again hopping on the ground, occasionally stop- 

 ping short, cocking its head sidewise, and ogling us with such a ludi- 

 crous expression, that we were induced in a measure to forget our 

 disagreeable situation, and indulged in a hearty laugh. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of fourteen specimens : length, 

 7*17; stretch, 11-45; wing, 3-56; tail, 2-74. 



4. Turdus swainsoni, Cabanis. Swainson's Thrush. Very 

 common during the migrations. It is met with in May (May 11 to 31, 

 1875; 9 to 28, 1876; 15, 1877; 10 to 27, 1878), and in the fall from 

 September 12th to October 19th (1876). 



In spring they are very abundant in the woods and orchards, utter- 

 ing a note that sounds like the bursting of an air bubble on rising to 

 the surface of a fluid. In autumn they are found in deep woodlands, 

 feeding, in company with many other birds, on the berries of the sour 

 gum (JVyssa multiflora) and dog- wood (Cornus florida). 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of thirteen specimens : length, 

 7-17; stretch, 12-11; wing, 3-93; tail, 2-76; bill (culmen), -50; gape, 

 •79; tarsus, 1*17; middle toe, *62; its claw, -22. 



4a. Turdus swainsoni, var. alieise (Baird). Gray-cheeked 

 Thursh. Abundant with T. swainsoni during the migrations. It 

 appears to arrive later, both in spring and fall, than that species. 

 Found during the latter half of May, and from September 23rd (1878) 

 to October 19th (1876). 



The only note I have heard from this species, in spring, is a peculiar 



