BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 313 



Mr. J. W. Huntington has watched one spending the present winter near 

 Amesbury, having seen the bird as late as January 27th, 1905. 



The Hermit Thrush, which breeds so abundantly in northern New England, 

 is found sparingly in summer in several places in Essex County. There is a 

 nest with eggs of this bird in the collection of the Peabody Academy. It was 

 taken on June 14th, 1868, at North Beverly, by E. P. Emerton. Mr. Welch 

 found it breeding in Lynn. 1 Mr. Hoffmann heard it singing in the deep woods 

 between Gloucester and Magnolia on June 1 ith, 1893, and I have heard it at 

 this season in Topsfield. Mr. Farley has found it breeding at these stations and 

 also in Essex, Georgetown, and Boxford. I have found Hermit Thrushes during 

 the migrations in such incongruous places as the sand dunes at Ipswich, and on 

 the bare rocky ledges of Thatcher's Island off the end of Cape Ann. 



It is always a privilege to hear the beautiful song of the Hermit Thrush 

 It resembles that of the Wood Thrush but has a more silvery tone, and is to me 

 even more beautiful. 



317 [761] Merula migratoria (Linn.). 

 American Robin. 



Permanent resident, abundant in summer, uncommon in winter ; average 

 date of spring arrivals for eight years, March 16. 



Eggs : May 4 to July 25. 



Robins are particularly abundant near the sea, frequenting the dry parts of 

 the beaches, the sand dunes, and the salt marshes. They are very fond of nest- 

 ing on buildings. I have had for several years three and sometimes four Robins' 

 nests on various parts of my summer house at Ipswich. One nest, in 1904, 

 was balanced on the top of two open blinds where they overlapped. Another 

 has been built on the lintel of the door under the front porch. This latter nest 

 has been occupied, presumably by the same pair, for four successive years, being 

 built up and otherwise repaired a little each year. It is now six inches high. In 

 1904, a nest under the piazza of one of my neighbors' houses had seven eggs in 

 it, and an eighth was dropped on the ground. It is probable that two females 

 laid their eggs in the nest. The nest was unfortunately deserted as it had to be 

 moved for repairs on the house. A nest was found in 1903, containing three 

 normal and two " runt " eggs. The latter suggested the eggs of the Catbird. 



1 Anon. : Proc. Boston Soc.Nat. Hist., vol. 13^.366, 1870. 



