^"''ign;^"^] Mousley, Birds of Hatley, Quebec. 185 



in damp situations, except one which must form almost a record, it being 

 10 feet up in a fir tree close against the trunk. The eggs in my experience 

 are just a little smaller and darker if anything than those of the Hermit 

 Thrush, and the nests are somewhat distinctive in that the lining has always 

 consisted of dry leaves and rootlets, as against grasses and rootlets in those 

 of the latter, which are also placed in drier situations. 



Since wi-iting the above I find Dr. Townsend in his book " Birds of 

 Essex County " quotes an instance in 1878 of a nest having been found at 

 the extraordinary height of 25 feet above the ground. 



119. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni (Tschudi). Olive-backed 

 Thrush. — Rare summer visitant; May — , to Sept. — . Eggs: June 11. 

 On the above date in June, 1914, I came across a nest of this species in a 

 small maple sapling 9 feet above the ground, containing three eggs upon 

 which the female was sitting. The nest was composed of coarse rootlets, 

 fir twigs and dry leaves, and lined inside with fine grasses and black rootlets. 

 I can give no specific date of arrival or departure, never having seen the 

 bird except on the above occasion. 



120. Hylocichla guttata pallasi (Cabanis). Hermit Thrush. — 

 Common summer visitant; April 21 to Nov. 13. Average date of arrival 

 (for four years) April 24; of departure (for two years) Nov. 6. Eggs: 

 May 18 to July 3. This beautiful songster is without a doubt the thrush 

 of the district, although' there are years when it is not so plentiful as others. 

 Their nest in my experience is invariably placed on the ground and gener- 

 ally at the foot of some small fir or hemlock tree whose lowest branches 

 touch the ground, and form a good cover, the only exception to this being 

 one that was built four feet up in a small fii' tree, close to the trunk and 

 which contained 3 fresh eggs on June 26 of the present year, 1915. I 

 have already referred to the difference in construction of nest and size of 

 eggs etc., to the Veery under the heading of that bird. 



121. Planesticus migratorius migratorius (Linnajus). Robin. — 

 Abundant summer visitant; March 24 to Oct. 24 (Nov. 12). Average 

 date of arrival (for five years) April 1 ; of departure (for four years) Oct. 10. 

 Eggs: May 14 to July 26. As a rule all the Robins have disappeared by 

 the end of September, the late date of Nov. 12 being for a single specimen 

 only in 1914. Sets of five eggs are decidedly rare as I have not come across 

 one during the past five years although I have examined some 68 nests 

 with this object in view. Robins here are particularly fond of using ' 

 pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margarilacea) in the foundations of their 

 nests, which have been found in almost every conceivable place, but only 

 once actually resting on the ground under a projecting ledge of rock on a 

 sloping hillside. A pair of birds have built their nests for two successive 

 years in a small fir tree near my house, and have reared two broods each 

 season in -the same nest. Is it merely a coincidence that when, specially 

 on the lookout this year, I noted males on March 24, but no females were 

 seen until April 9, or do the males really precede the females? I can find 

 no reference to the subject in any of my books. 



