THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. ^ 311 



755 Hylocichia mustelina (Gmelin). 

 Wood Thrush, Wood Robin. 



PLATE 83. 



Adults. — Length, 7.50-8.25. Wing, 4.10-i.50. Tawny-brown above, brightest 

 on the head, duller and more olive on the tail ; below, white, slightly tinged 

 with bufif on the breast ; sides of neck, entire breast and sides of abdomen 

 marked with large blackish spots. 



Youvg in first summer with more or less pale streaks and spots on the back 

 and wing-coverts. 



'Nest of leaves, fine twigs, plant stems and mud, placed in a small tree eight 

 to ten feet up ; eggs, three to four, greenish-blue, 1.05 x .70. 



Common summer resident. Arrives April 24:th (April 30th), de- 

 parts October 1st. 



No low, rich woodland is without at least a pair of Wood Thrushes, 

 and as soon as one enters the cool shade he hears either the clear, flute- 

 like modulated song, or the metallic "put-put-put" of their alarm note. 



The Wood Thrush is the largest and most heavily spotted of any of 

 our Thrushes, the only one in which the spots run down below the 

 breast. 



His food is seventy-five per cent, insects and the rest wild berries. 



The Wood Thrush is not a shy bird ; he will frequent shady village 

 streets as well as the more remote woodland, but he must have shade 

 and prefers nearness to water. In the pine barrens he is restricted to 

 the cedar swamps. 



756 Hylocichia fuscesens (Stephens). 

 Veery, Wilson's Thrush. 



Adults. — Length, 6.50-7.75. Wing, 3.90. Above, uniform tawny-brown ; 

 below, white, strongly tinged with bufif across the breast, and a slight brown 

 tint on the sides of the body ; breast and sides of throat with numerous small 

 tawny-brown spots. 



Young in first summer with pale spots above. 



Nest of leaves, fine roots and strips of bark on the ground or in the base of 

 a bush ; eggs, three to five, greenish-blue, .90 x .65. 



Common summer resident in the northern counties ; transient visit- 

 ant in the southern half of the State. Arrives April 26th (May 2d), 



