12 



bubble-bursting sound, like that produced by the Olive-backed Thrush; 

 but in the fall they utter a low note resembling the common cry of the 

 Brown Creeper. In autumn, they are found inhabiting the thickest 

 woods, where they feed upon the berries of the sour gum, or "pep- 

 peridge" (Nyssa mulliflora}, dogwood (Cornus florida), and the frost 

 grape ( Vitis cordifolia') ; but they are especially fond of the ripe ber- 

 ries of the common poke weed or pigeon-berry (Phytolacca decandra'), 

 upon which they soon grow very fat, as do the Robins. They are 

 very shy, and, when frightened, fly a long distance before alighting, 

 when they remain perfectly quiet for some time, rarely taking another 

 flight ; for this reason they are very hard to discover, so that a woods 

 may sometimes abound with them, when none are visible to an ordi- 

 nary observer. When perched, they assume a very erect posture, and 

 present an appearance of alert wariness corresponding to their wild 

 habits. 



They are generally quite readily distinguishable from T. swainsom, 

 though by exactly what characters it is hard to explain, when the 

 markings are not distinguishable. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of fourteen specimens : length, 

 7-58; stretch, 12-70; wing, 4-09; tail, 2-96; bill (culmen), -55; gape, 

 82; tarsus, 1-25; middle toe, -68; its claw, -25. 



5. Turdus fuscescens, Stephens. TAWNY THRUSH; WILSON'S 

 THRUSH. A rather scarce summer resident; breeds. Arrives early 

 (May 5, 1876; 15, 1877; 8, 1878). 



Wilson's Thrush is only common here during the spring migrations. 

 It is occasionally seen during the breeding season, but not abundantly. 

 A pair has nested for several successive seasons, on Constitution 

 Island, close to the house of the Misses Warner, where they are very 

 welcome guests. Miss Warner described its song to me as one of 

 surpassing sweetness. 



On their first arrival from the South they are very shy, staying in 

 the thickest under-growth in the deep woods; but soon they come 

 flocking familiarly about the house, and for a time the blossoming 

 orchards are filled with them. After several weeks, however, they 

 nearly all move further north, a few, only, remaining to breed, remov- 

 ing to the darkest solitudes of the woods, in single pairs. Then I 

 have found them shy, and their nests I have failed to discover. Lower 

 down the Hudson, 'this species is more abundant in summer, and 

 breeds very commonly. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of five specimens : length, 

 7-52; stretch, 11-95; wing, 3-84; tail, 2-87; bill (culmen), -53; gape, 

 85; tarsus, 1-17; middle toe, -68; its claw, -22. 



6. Mimus carolinensis, (Linne). CAT-BIRD. A very common 

 summer resident; breeds. Arrives early in May (May 4, 1872; 10, 



