Birds of Indiana. ' 1153 



Range. — America, from Brazil and Ecuador over eastern North 

 America (west to Great Basin) to Labrador and Alaska, Breeds from 

 Pennsylvania, in the Alleghanies, southern Sien-a Nevadas, moun- 

 tains of southern 'New England and Manitoba northward. 



Nest, in woods in bush, small tree or hollow stump, 5 feet up; of 

 rootlets, bark, grass, moss, lined with finer material. Eggs, 3-5; pale 

 blue, ■ spotted chiefly at larger end with reddish-brown, sometimes 

 forming wreath about larger end; .93 by .70. 



The Olive-backed Thrush is a common migrant. It is possible it 

 breeds rarely in the extreme northern portion of the State. 



Dr. A. W. Brayton says it is a rare summer resident in the north of 

 the State (Ind. Birds, 1879, p. 95). 



Some springs they arrive in southern Indiana by April 23 and reach 

 the northern part of the State by April 28. Usually, however, it is 

 about the first of May when they are seen southward, and a week or 

 ten days later before they reach our northern boundary. Most of 

 them pass through in from one to two weeks after they arrive, but 

 individuals are found along our northern border until near the end 

 of May. 



It is well to note that this, the Gray-cheeked and Wilson's Thrushes, 

 are late migrants compared with the Wood Thrush and Hermit 

 Thrush. They have been noted at Brookville, April 26, 1883, May 

 S, 1882; Richmond, May 23 and 24. 1897; Greensburg. May 1 to May 

 22, 1894; Spearsville, May 4 to 18, 1895; Wabash, May 1 to 5, 1893; 

 Bloomington, May 9, 1893; Lafayette, May 12, 1892; Laporte, April 

 10, 1893, 1894, May 1, 1893; Sedan, May 6, 1896, May 16, 1889; Chi-, 

 cago, 111., the earliest date of arrival is April 28, 1896, and they were 

 noted there May 26, 1897. 



The Olive-backed Thrush is found in all kinds of woodland, where 

 either singly or in small groups they spend much time upon the 

 ground, where they obtain their food. When surprised they fly upon 

 the lower branches of a tree or bush, usually getting behind a limb 

 or tree trunk out of view, but sometimes simply turning the back to 

 the intruder and then sitting motionless. Often when frightened 

 from this perch they fly wildly away with a flight almost as erratic 

 as that of Wilson's Snipe. 



Prof. Forbes examined eleven of these Thrushes taken at different 

 seasons and found 62 per cent, of their food was insects and 35 per 

 cent, fruits. Of the insects, ants constituted 17 per cent; caterpillars. 

 12 per cent.; beetles, 18 per cent.; craneflies, 4 per cent. Of the fruit 

 eaten 27 per cent, was wild grapes. 



73— Geol. 



