432 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



grated weed-stalks — tlie whole, loose and slovenly, could hardly be han- 

 dled without coming apart. 



Mr. Walter E. Bryant describes the location of three nests taken 

 by Mr. L. Belding, at Big Trees, California, in various years, in June. 

 They were placed on the ground in a slight depression, and concealment 

 was attempted by the aid of weeds, a stone, or a large piece of bark. 

 One nest was built on the ground, within the semi-circular cavity of a. 

 standing tree. The nests were composed mostly of pine needles. Mr. 

 Norris has a set of four eggs of this species, taken near Hancock, Col- 

 orado, June 19, 1882. The nest was placed on the ground, on the side 

 of a steep bank. The eggs are whitish, speckled and spotted with ha- 

 zel, thickest at the larger end, where they are almost confluent ; sizes, 

 .94 X .68, .93 X .68, .94 X .68, .98 x .65. Mr. Lamb describes the eggs 

 which he obtained as resembling those of the Shrikes, and gives the 

 sizes of three specimens preserved out of the set of four as i.oi x.66, 

 .94 x .68, .88 x .66. The usual number laid is four, with an average 

 size of .93 X .67. 



755. Tardus mustelinus Gmel. [ i.] 



"Wood Thrnsh. 



Hab. Eastern United States, in summer north to Southern Michigan, Ontario, Massachusetts, etc.; 

 south in winter to Northern Central America and Cuba. 



A common bird in the woodland of Eastern United States and as 

 far West as Eastern Kansas, where Col. Goss gives it as an abundant 

 summer resident. Its favorite resorts are low, damp woods and thickets, 

 where it spends much of its time on the ground scratching among the 

 leaves. The bird has a sweet song, which it sings from the higher 

 branches of trees, generally towards the close of summer afternoons. 

 The nest is usually saddled upon the horizontal limbs of saplings and 

 low trees, six to ten feet from the ground ; on the outside it is com- 

 posed of leaves, grasses and stems of weeds, which are gathered when 

 wet, and become solid and firm ; and between these are tracings of 

 mud ; the lining is of small fibrous roots. The breeding season is in 

 May. Usually' four eggs are laid, often only three. Their color is a 

 plain greenish-blue, and their average size is 1.02 x .74, with consider- 

 able variation. 



' 756. Turdus fuscescens Steph. [2.] 



'Wilson's Thrusli. 



Hab. Eastern United States and British Provinces to the Plains, north to Manitoba, Ontario, Anti- 

 costi, and Newfoundland. 



Wilson's, the Tawny Thrush, or Veery, is an abundant species in 

 the wooded regions of Eastern United States. It is rather partial to 

 low, wet woods. Breeds from about latitude 40° north to Manitoba, 

 Ontario, Anticosti, and Newfoundland. It has been considered a 



