THE RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH. 231 
nests of certain other thrushes, is conspicuously lacking in this one. The 
brooding hollow is only three inches from brim to brim, by one and three- 
quarters indepth. The eggs are in every way miniature Robins’, being without 
spots, and representing only three-fifths or two-thirds the bulk of those of 
the larger bird. 
No. 93. 
RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH. 
A. O. U. No. 758. Hylocichla ustulata (Nutt.). 
Synonym.—‘Woop THRUsH” (name properly restricted to H. mustelina of 
the East). 
Description 4 dults: Above olive-brown, substantially uniform; a conspicu- 
ous orbital ring of pale buff; sides of head buffy mingled or streaked with olive- 
brown; chin, throat and chest buff (or lightening to buffy white toward chin) ; 
sides of throat and entire chest with triangular marks of deep olive-brown, 
smaller and narrower on throat, larger and broader (sector-shaped) posteriorly ; 
breast, especially on sides, transversely spotted with light brown; sides and flanks 
heavily marked with brownish; remaining underparts white. Bull blackish, paling 
basally on mandible; feet and legs brown; iris brown. JVinter specimens are 
brighter, more deeply tinged with buff before and with under tail-coverts buffy. 
Young birds are more or less marked and streaked with buffy and tawny above 
and the markings of underparts are mostly transverse. Length 6.50-7.50 (165.1- 
190.5) ; wing 3.83 (97) ; tail 2.87 (73); bill .54 (13.7) ; tarsus 1.10 (28). 
Recognition Marks.—Sparrow size; uniform olive-brown above; heavy 
spotting and buffy wash on chest; sides of head and eye-ring buffy ; brown above 
as compared with H. wu. sqwainsonit. 
Nesting.—Nest: of bark-strips, moss and grasses, with a heavy inner mat or 
mould of dead leaves, lined with rootlets and fine grasses; placed usually at 
moderate heights in bushes or saplings of thickets, sometimes 30-60 feet high in 
trees. Eggs: 3-5, usually 4, greenish blue or dull grayish blue dotted and spotted, 
rather sparingly, with various shades of brown. Av. size, .93 x .67 (23.6 17). 
Season: June, July; one or two broods. 
General Range.—Pacific coast district from southern California to Alaska 
(Juneau), breeding thruout its range; south in winter thru Mexico to Central and 
northern South America. ‘ 
Range in Washington.—Common summer resident and migrant west of 
the Cascade Mountains; probably overflows thru mountain passes to at least the 
eastern slopes of the Cascades. 
Authorities —Turdus ustulatus Nuttall, Man. Orn. U. S. and Canada, Land 
Birds, ed. 2, 1840, pp. VI. 830 (Columbia River). C&S. Lt. Rh. Dt. Kb. Ra. 
2s sss) Kk BiH. 
Specimens.—U. of W. P'(?). Prov. B. BN. E. 
