Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 201 



main in backward seasons until near the end of the month. In 

 autumn it occurs from the last of September to October 22. As 

 common as this bird is during the migrations, it was unknown to 

 both Bachman and Audubon, who undoubtedly overlooked or 

 mistook it for some other species, probably Wilson's Thrush. 



The Gray-cheeked Thrush is generally very shy and seldom 

 admits of a near appproach. It inhabits the same character of 

 swamp as the Wood and Wilson's Thrushes, but seems to prefer 

 even darker places, and its sweet song is frequently heard in the 

 spring. 



All the thrushes of this genus have the habit of gently flapping 

 their wings when on a tree or bush as if airing themselves, and are 

 easily identified by this peculiarity. 



According to Mr. E. W. Nelson, ^ this species breeds abun- 

 dantly in Alaska and may also breed, at least sparingly, in eastern 

 Siberia. It winters in Central America, Ecuador, Peru, and 

 Venezuela. 



305. Hylocichla alicise bicknelli Ridgw. Bicknell's Thrush. 

 This is a small race of the Gray-cheeked Thrush, and I have 



taken but one specimen — on May 10, 1900, near Mount Pleasant — 

 which is now in the collection of my friend Mr. William Brewster. 

 As it is not always possible to distinguish this form from alicioe 

 when at large, and as it is needless to destroy it in order to ascer- 

 tain its status as a migrant, I have refrained from shooting any 

 numbers. It must, however, be rare, for the specimen taken 

 May 10 looked so very small at a short distance, that I was cer- 

 tain it was a representative of bicknelli before I shot it, while all 

 the others that I have seen at close range were very large and 

 must have undoubtedly been alicice. 



Bicknell's Thrush breeds in the Catskills and White Mountains, 

 and in the Mud and Seal Islands off the coast of Nova Scotia. It 

 winters in the Bahamas. 



306. Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii (Cab.). Olive-backed 

 Thrush. 



This transient visitant generally arrives in spring about the 

 middle of April and remains until May 15. In autumn I have 

 noted it from the last of September until October 22, but a few 



1 Report upon Natural History Collections made in Alaska, 216. 



