TURDID^ — THE THRUSHES. 19 



Thrush, has not been distinouished from the closely allied species T. swain- 

 soni, and all accounts of writers have blended both in singular confusion. 

 My colleague, Professor Baird, in the summer of 1844, was the first to sug- 

 gest the distinctness of the two species. By the common people of Maine 

 and the British Provinces this difference lias long been generally recognized, 

 this species being known as the " Ground Swamp Ptobin," and the other as 

 the " Swamp Eobin." 



The present species is found throughout Eastern Nortli America to the 

 Mississippi, and breeds from Massachusetts to high arctic regions. It is 

 only occasionally found breeding so far south as Massachusetts ; through 

 which State it passes in its spring migrations, sometimes as early as the 10th 

 of April; usually reaching Calais, Maine, by the 15th of the same month. 



It is a very alnindant bird throughout Maine, where it begins to breed 

 during the last week of May, and where it also probably lias two broods 

 in a season. 



Tlie greater number appear to pass the winter in tlie Southern States ; it 

 being common in Florida, and even occasionally seen during that season as 

 far north as latitude 38° in Southern Illinois, according to Mr. Ptidgway. 



It rarely, if ever, sings during its migrations ; appears in small straggling 

 companies, frequents both thickets and open fields, and is unsuspicious and 

 easily approached. 



The song of this species is very fine, having many of the characteristics 

 of tliat of tlie Wood Thrush (T. niustelinus). It is as sweet, has the same 

 tinkling sounds, as of a bell, but is neither so powerful nor so prolonged, 

 and rises more rapidly in its intonations. It l^egins with low, sweet notes, 

 and ends abruptly with its highest, sharp ringing notes. 



Taken from the nest they are easily tamed, and are quite lively and 

 playful ; but their want of cleanliness renders them very undesirable pets. 

 When their nest is visited they make no complaints, but retire to a distance. 

 Not so, however, when their natural enemy, the hawk, appears ; these they 

 at once assail and seek to drive away, uttering loud and clear chirps, and 

 peculiar twittering sounds. 



The nest of this thrush is always built on the ground, most generally 

 either under low bushes or in the open ground, rarely, if ever, among 

 thick trees, and for the most part in low swampy places. Both nest and 

 eggs closely resemble tliose of Wilson's Thrush {T. fnscescens). In Pars- 

 boro. Nova Scotia, I found one of the nests built in the very midst of the 

 village, close to a dwelling, though on a spot so marsliy as to be almost 

 unapproachable. The nests are 3 inches in height and 5 in diameter, with 

 a cavity 3} inches wide by If deep. They are composed of decayed decidu- 

 ous leaves, remnants of dried plants, sedges and grasses, intermingled with 

 twigs, and lined with finer grasses, sedges, and strips of liark. 



The eggs are of a uniform bluish-gi-een color, and range in length from .88 

 to .94, with an average of .63 of an inch. 



