j^O SUMMER BIRDS. 



THE SUMMER BIRDS OF THE SOUTHERN CATSKILL 



MOUNTAINS. 



FAMILY TURDID^: THRUSHES. 



The summer Fauna of the Catskill region lacks but two members of this 

 family of the full number of its species pertaining to the Eastern Faunal 

 Province of the United States, viz. — the Mocking-bird {J\'Iinuis polyglottus 

 Boie.) of more southern, and the Gray-cheeked Thrush {Hylocichla Alicice 

 Baird) of more northern breeding range. 



It can be said of no other region of such limited extent, that all eastern 

 representatives of the genus HylocicJila, excepting of course true H. Alicice, 

 are found as summer residents within its borders; much less that they all 

 breed within an area of a few miles. Among the Catskills we find in the 

 valleys, H. miistclina and H. fuscescens, on the mountains, H. 'nanus and 

 H. ' Swainso?u, while H. ' i?/f/^;z^/// inhabits one if not others of the higher 

 peaks. 



Hylocichla mustelina (Gm.) Baird. Wood Thrush. 



Apparently not uncommon, but showing none of the confidence or 

 familiarity which characterize it in other, more settled, regions. Here 

 it was found to be a shy, retiring inhabitant of the woodland along 

 the valleys and lower slopes, and except in the morning and evening 

 hours its song was not often heard. (Dnce only was it iound high oh 

 the mountains. This was at an elevation of perhaps 2,5oo feet, where 

 the refrain of a most accomplished singer reached me simultaneously 

 with the wilder melody of the Winter Wren. 



Mr. Pearsall discovered two nests, completed but without eggs, 

 June 12. 



Hylocichla fuscescens (Steph.) Baird. Wilson's Thrush. 



Common along the water-courses in the valleys and in damp 

 woody tracts on the lower slopes of the hills, but not noticed at a 

 greater elevation than about 2,000 feet. 



A nest discovered near Summit, June 7, 1880, contained two eggs, 

 and the following day a third had been deposited. The situation 

 and position of this nest were rather unusual. It was built near the 

 border of a wood containing little undergrowth, and placed at a 

 height of about three feet, on the stumps of several closely clustered 

 saphngs which, having been chopped into and incompletely severed, 

 had fallen over on one side. In the Big Indian Valley, Mr. Pearsall 

 discovered seven nests; the first June 3, with two eggs, the last June 

 12, with three eggs, both sets being fresh; the largest set observed 

 was of four eggs — ^June 10. Without exception these nests were 



