400 THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 



759b. Tardus aonalaschkse pallasii (C'aJ.)- Hermit Thrush. 



j^d^ — Upper parts olive-brown, sometimes cinnamon-brown; tail pale rufous, 

 of a distinctly different color from the back ; throat and breast with a slight 

 buff'y tinge ; feathers of the sides of the throat with wedge-shaped black spots 

 at their tips ; those of the breast with large, rounded spots ; middle of the 

 belly white ; sides brownish gray or brownish ashy. L., 7*17 ; W., 3-56 ; T., 

 2-74; B., -51. 



Eemarks. — The Hermit Thrush may always be easily identified by its 

 rufous tail. It is the only one of our Thrushes which has the tail brighter 

 than the back. 



Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from northern Michigan and 

 Massachusetts northward, and southward along the Alleghanies to Pennsyl- 

 vania ; winters from southern Illinois and New Jersey to the Gulf States. 



"Washington, very common T. V., sometimes not uncommon W. V., Apl. 



4 to May 15 ; Oct. 15 to Nov. Sing Sing, common T. V., Apl. 5 to May 9 ; 

 Oct. 18 to Nov. 26. Cambridge,, very common T. V., Apl. 16 to May 5; Oct. 



5 to Nov. 15; occasionally one or two may winter. 



Nest, of moss, coarse grasses, and leaves, lined with rootlets and pine 

 needles, on the ground. Eggs, three to four, greenish blue, of a slightly 

 lighter tint than those of the Wood Thrush, -88 x -69. 



This Thrush comes to us in the spring, when the woods are still 

 bare, and lingers in the autumn until they are again leafless — the 

 earliest as it is the latest of our Thrushes. It is common on its mi- 

 grations, but attracts little notice, for, though not really a shy bird, 

 its disposition is retiring, and it is most at home in secluded wood- 

 land and thickety retreats. Still, it often finds seclusion enough along 

 shrubby roadsides, and may so far doff its hermit traits as to approach 

 dwellings, where its attractive lightness of motion and ease of manner 

 may be observed from indoors. It frequently descends to the ground, 

 but is soon back again in the branches, making short flights from 

 perch to perch, often with long, quiet pauses in the intervals. It may 

 be known at sight by its habit of lifting its tail slightly, especially 

 after alighting. This action is usually accompanied by the bird's 

 customary note — a low chuck, which sounds scarcely thrushlike. 



The Hermit Thrush bears high distinction among our song birds. 

 Its notes are not remarkable for variety or volume, but in purity 

 and sweetness of tone and exquisite modulation they are unequaled. 

 Some, indeed, have deemed the Wood Thrush not inferior: but though 

 the Wood Thrush at its best seems sometimes to*touch the very highest 

 chords of bird music, the strains of its wilder cousin, in tranquil clear- 

 ness of tone and exalted serenity of expression, go beyond any woods 

 music we ever hear. 



While traveling, the Hermit Thrush is not in full voice, and he 

 who would know its song must follow it to the mossy forests, which 

 are its summer home. Eugene P. Bicknell. 



