346 



Howell, List of Summer Birds of Mi. Mansfield. \o^\ 



dozen times. The glimpses I liad of them were either at long range, or 

 cut short bj the sudden departure of the bird into the dense cover of the 

 evergreens, so that close study of their habits was impossible. 



This was in marked contrast to the experience of Mr. Bradford Torrey, 

 who visited the mountain in 1SS5. He says they were " never out of hear- 

 ing and seldom long out of sight, even from the door step.''^ His visit, 

 however, was at the time the young were leaving the nest, while I was 

 there during the per.iod of incubation, which may account for the differ- 

 ence in their familiarity. His surmise, based on the testimony of a 

 friend, that the birds had left the mountain the 'following year would 

 seem to be disproved by my experience. It is very improbable that a 

 species so well established would entirely desert a favorable locality for 

 no apparent cause ; it seems more likely that his friend for some reason 

 had overlooked them. 



They sing at any time of day, though most frequently toward evening. 

 The song is quite unlike any of the other thrush songs, resembling the 

 Veery's somewhat in form, though not in quality of tone, which is like 

 that of a fine, high-pitched reed. It is not so loud, or so clear as either 

 the Olive-back's or the Veery's, and unlike the former, does not change 

 its pitch perceptibly. The syllables xvee-d-tvee-a-zvee-chi-cki-ivee, whistled 

 through the closed teeth, will give a faint conception of its character. 

 The opening notes, zvee-a, repeated two or three times, are smooth and 

 flowing, and are followed by two staccato notes ; the closing note 

 resembles the opening ones, and is without special emphasis. The 

 last three notes taken together form the characteristic portion of the 

 song, and are frequently given by themselves without the prelude. 



I am aware that the above description of the song differs in some respects 

 from that given by Mr. Brewster, but it is not at all remarkable that the 

 birds of another colony should sing a somewhat different song. The call 

 note, which is frequently uttered, sometimes from a lofty perch, though 

 usually in the thicket, is a rather harsh cheep. I did not hear the ^'eery 

 noiQ, p he It, spoken of by Mr. Brewster. 



83. Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii. Olive-backed Tiiru.sh.^ — This 

 is the commonest Thrush on the lower slopes of the mountain, ranging 

 from the base to the upper limits of the heavy timber, above which it is 

 replaced by bicknelli. Although quite shv, and therefore rarely seen, its 

 beautiful rich song — in my opinion second only to that of the Hermit — 

 was heard at frequent intervals during my trips up the mountain, some- 

 times as many as three of the singers being within hearing at once. 



84. Hylocichla aonalaschkae pallasii. Hermit Thrush. — During 

 my first visit to the mountain in 1S99, I listened in vain for the Hermits, 

 and in 1900, I heard but one. They are certainly not numerous at the 

 base of the moimtain where I stayed, and I am quite sure there were none 



iThe Foot-Path Way, p. 95, 1896. 



