THE RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH. 231 



nests of certain other thrushes, is conspicunusly lacking in this ime. 'I'lie 

 brooding iiollow is only three inches from brim to brim, by one and three- 

 quarters in depth. The eggs are in ex'ery way miniature Robins', being without 

 spots, and representing only thrce-lifths or two-thirds tlie bulk of those of 

 the larger bird. 



No. 93. 



RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH. 



.\. O. v. Xo. 758. Hylocichia ustulata (Xutt. ). 



Synonym. — "Woou TnRrsii" (name properly restricted to //. iinistcliiia of 

 the East). 



Description. — .Iditlts: .Above olive-l.irown. snl)Stantially iniifurm: a conspicu- 

 ous orbital ring of pale buff; sides of head buft'y mingled or streaked with olive- 

 brown; chin, throat and chest bufl' (or lightening to huffy 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 underjjarts white. Bill blackish, paling 

 basally on mandible; feet and legs brown; iris brown. Winter specimens are 

 brighter, more deeply tinged with buff before and with under tail-coverts huffy. 

 Young birds are more or less marked and streaked with buft'y 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 (y^) ; bill .54 ( 13.7) ; tar.sus i.io (28). 



Recognition Marl<s. — Sparrow size; uniform olive-brown above; heavy 

 spotting and buft'y wash on chest; sides of head and cyc-ring IniHy : brown above 

 as comi)ared with H. 11. swaiiisonii. 



Nesting. — Xest: of bark-strips, moss and grasses, with a heavy inner mat or 

 mould of dead leaves, lined with rootlets and fine grasses; jjlaced usually at 

 moderate heights in bushes or saplings of thickets, sometimes 30-60 feet high in 

 trees. Egys: 3-5, usually 4, greenish blue or dull grayish blue dotted and spotted, 

 rather sparingly, with various shades of brown. .\v. size, .93 x .67 ( 23.6 .\ 17). 

 Season: June, July ; one or two broods. 



Genera! Range. — Pacific coast district from southern California to .\laska 

 (Juneau ). breeding thruout its range; south in winter thru Mexico to Central and 

 northern South .\mcrica. • 



Range in Washington. -Common summer resident and migrant west of 

 the Cascade Mountain> ; probably overflows thru momitain passes to at least the 

 eastern slo])es of the Cascades. 



Authorities. — Turdus ustnlatus Niittall, Man. Orn. L'. S. and Canada, Land 

 Birds, ed. 2, 1840. pp. \I. 830 (Columbia River). C&S. L'. Rh 1)'. Kb. Ra. 

 D-'. Ss-\ Kk. B. K. 



Specimens.— U. of \V. P' ( ?). Prov. B. BX. E. 



