THE OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH. I3 



The nest measures 4 inches in width by 2 in height, and the 

 cavity is rather shallow. It is a more neatly and carefully con- 

 structed home than that of any other of the thrushes. Con- 

 spicuous among its miscellaneous materials are Hypnum 

 mosses, which, by their fibrous masses, distinguish these nests 

 from all except those of the West Coast variety {ustulatus) . 

 Besides this moss are found fine sedges, grasses, stems of reedy 

 plants, "red, glossy vegetable fibres, the stems of flowering 

 Caledonia mosses, lichens, fine strips of bark, etc.," varying 

 with locality. 



Usually three, but apparently never more than four, eggs are 

 laid, which average .88 by .(>(> of an inch in measurement. 

 The ground-color in most cases is pale bluish green, but some- 

 times light blue. The ^^g is thickly speckled with spots of 

 russet brown and reddish, more or less confluent, and with 

 many variations. The rearing of more than one brood in a 

 season appears to be exceptional, and has been altogether de- 

 nied ; but I am inclined to think it happens ; indeed, I have ap- 

 parently trustworthy information that a nest with fresh eggs 

 was taken at North Conway, N. H., in a swampy thicket on 

 the mountain, as late as July 11. 



When driven from the nest, the mother silently conceals her- 

 self, or alights close by, oflering no resistance or complaint. 



Besides the typical, eastern form, there are two w^ell-marked 

 varieties of this species — the Gray-cheeked, or Alice's Thrush 

 (Var. ALICIA, No. 5(z) ; and the Oregon Thrush ( Var. ustula- 

 tus, No. 5<5). 



The former breeds abundantly from Labrador along the 

 Arctic Circle to Alaska. Its nests are generally placed on the 

 branches of low trees, within reach of the hand, and are con- 

 structed of various vegetable subtances so soft that no separate 

 lining is required ; and they thus resemble the nests of the par- 

 ent species in all respects except in the absence of the bright 

 Hypn7(m moss, so characteristic of Turdus swaitisoni. Oc- 

 casionally the nest will be found upon the ground, when it is 

 likely to have mud-walls much like a robin's. Dr. Coues saw 

 these birds in deep, shaded ravines in Labrador July 24, the 

 young just beginning to fly, amid the most intense anxiety on 



