On the Birds of Ritchie County. 131 



Several interesting notes made by Mr. Ingersoll, during 

 a previous visit in Sept., 1873, have been generously placed 

 at my disposal by that gentleman, and I would also express 

 my thanks to my friends Messrs. Ruthven Deane and H. A. 

 Purdie, to the former of whom 1 am indebted for many 

 valuable field notes, and to the latter for much kind assist- 

 ance in the preparation of the present paper. It may be 

 well for me to state that all differences in voice or habits, 

 which I shall describe, are such as compared with the 

 normal voice or habits of the same bird in the New England 

 States. I shall also, for the sake of uniformity, use the 

 terms song and note in their restricted sense, that is, song, 

 as descriptive of the vocal performances of the male during 

 the breeding season ; notes, the calls of recognition, alarm, 

 pleasure, etc., which are used indifferently by both sexes at 

 all seasons. At the same time I am fully aware that some 

 few' exceptions may be found which will mar the uniformity 

 of this system, as in the case of the cardinal grosbeak, both 

 sexes of which sing equally well. In classification and no- 

 menclature I have followed Dr. Coues' Key to North Ameri- 

 can Birds. 



Family TURDIDJE. The Thrushes. 



1. Turdus mustelimis Gm. Excessively abundant, and one of the most 

 characteristic birds of these woods, affecting alike the hillsides and 

 tangled thickets of the ravines. 



By May 1st all had arrived and were paired for the season. In the early 

 morning and evening twilight, as many as six or eight males might fre- 

 quently be heard singing at once. Their song, as compared with that of 

 the Massachusetts bird, was hardly recognizable, being less loud, much 

 abbreviated, and lacking all that variety and depth of intonation that 

 makes our bird so preeminent among its companion songsters. They 

 were also less shy than I have been accustomed to find them. 



2. Turdus migratorius L. Rather common but restricted to the belt 

 of cultivated country in the valley. On the 30th of April three nests were 

 found, all containing eggs but slightly incubated. 



3. Turdus fuscescens Steph. Apparently rare, a single pair noted by 

 Mr. Deane, May 2d. 



4. Turdus Swainsonii Cab. Arrived May 5th and for three or four 



