'^1910 J McClintock, a Hermit Thrush Study. 417 



hopping calong the ground for the last six or eight feet, when ap- 

 proaching the nest, as was invariably clone during the first days, 

 they now flew direct to the nest. 



I was much interested in watching the attitude of the parent 

 Hermits towards other animal life during my period of watching. 

 A neighboring chipmunk was chased daily and upon one occasion 

 was put to rout three times within ten minutes. No attention by 

 the Hermits was paid to the proximity of Chickadees or a Purple 

 Finch. Neither at another time did one of the parents, which I 

 was watching at the nest, exhibit any apparent concern, when a 

 Northern Raven flew low over the nesting site. 



The greatest exhibition of anxiety made by the Hermits toward 

 any wild creature, during my entire watching, was on August 

 6 when there was much excitement, which lasted for a half hour, 

 in the thicket just back of my blind. During this time, all feeding 

 by the parents was suspended and the thrushes constantly uttered 

 their several alarm notes, changing from one to the other at inter- 

 vals. In these protestations the thrushes were joined by a sym- 

 pathetic flock of Chickadees. An investigation by me of the 

 source of the trouble disclosed, to my surprise, a Flicker leisurely 

 feeding on the ground. 



Towards evening of August 6 it was apparent to me that the time 

 for the young to leave the nest was close at hand. I, accordingly, 

 decided to secure, before it was too late, some portraits of the 

 young that would show their development. This process brought 

 to a close the life in the nest, as the young birds would not remain 

 in their nest after being temporarily removed. 



The next morning when I returned I found the site deserted 

 and even though I took up my watch within the blind, yet no sight 

 nor sound of any Hermit did I have. I later located one young 

 thrush in the following manner, which I believe would prove an 

 excellent method for others to adopt when desirous of finding 

 hidden nests or young birds: I hunted around in the adjacent 

 swamp until I heard the familiar Canary-like boyb note of a 

 parent Hermit. This note was kept up until I retreated from the 

 spot, when the male changed from the hoyh note to his Cedar-bird 

 like call. This indicated to me that I was very near the young. 

 Accordingly, procuring my blind, I hastened to the spot where T 



