BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. 383 



in dense second-growth woods shading low ground, or among gray birches on 

 hillsides. At both times of year they usually occur singly, although they often 

 associate with various species of Warblers and sometimes with Chickadees or 

 with Golden-crested Kinglets. They visit our garden rather regularly and not 

 so very infrequently in late April and early May and occasionally in September, 

 also. I have few recent records of their appearance in other parts of the city of 

 Cambridge, but we used to see them every autumn in the Fresh Pond Swamps. 

 On December 23, 1899, Mr. Walter Faxon and Mr. Ralph Hoffmann 

 found a Ruby -crowned Kinglet in an arbor vita; hedge near Fresh Pond. It is 

 probable that this bird was merely a belated migrant, for although carefully 

 looked for afterward it was not again seen. 



241. Hylocichla mustelina (Gmel.). 

 Wood Thrush. 



Locally common summer resident. 



seasonal occurrence. 



May 4, 1892, one .seen. East Lexington, \V. Faxon. 



May 10 — September 15. 

 November 18, 1897, one seen (Wellesley Hills), B. Torrey. 



NESTING dates. 



May 26 — June 5. 



The Wood Thrush breeds regularly in the more retired parts of Arlington, 

 Belmont, Waltham, and Lexington, but in no one of these towns is it at all 

 generally or plentifully distributed, although at a few localities, as along the 

 elevated ridge that extends from Arlington to Waverley, about Rock Meadow 

 and in the neighborhood of Prospect Hill, it is — and has been, ever since I can 

 remember, — fairly common. It sometimes frequents dry hillsides covered with 

 dense, young second-growth, but it prefers places where the ground is moist and 

 heavily shaded by large trees and its favorite haunts are rocky glens, springy 

 runs, the courses of brooks, and the borders of swamps. 



Our Wood Thrushes return from the south early in May. Sometimes 

 they are silent for a few days following the date of their arrival, but if the wea- 

 ther be favorable they often begin singing almost immediately after they have 

 reached their breeding grounds. One may hear them at their best about sun- 



