2O LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



as the above species is commonly designated, is 

 a common visitant in the latitude of Philadelphia. 

 At the time of writing, April, 1875, ^ ' ls unusually 

 abundant. It migrates in small straggling parties 

 ordinarily, but on the occasion referred to above, 

 solitary male individuals were alone discerned. 



This Thrush delights in open fields and the 

 borders of dense forests. In these situations 

 it frequents young trees of Abies canadensis prin- 

 cipally, among the nethermost branches of which 

 it reposes when not engaged in foraging among 

 the underlying leaves for the insects and seeds 

 which constitute its diet. In one instance we 

 captured a specimen close to our habitation. 



Though generally a frequenter of retired 

 localities, it cannot be accused of shyness and 

 timidity. Nothing is more remote from its nature. 

 It has proved itself to be the most confiding and 

 unsuspecting little creature with which we are 

 acquainted, except SEgiothus linaria. When 

 closely pursued, it is the same quiet confiding 

 creature, as when gleaning among the fallen leaves. 

 To test its disposition in this particular, the writer 

 stationed himself at the termination of a clump of 

 small trees, where a single bird was feeding, and 

 requested a friend to place himself in its rear and 

 to proceed directly towards the spot where he was 

 standing. He did so, driving the bird before him. 

 The latter advanced within a few feet of the 

 writer, and perched upon a small twig with the 

 utmost gravity. From this position it calmly sur- 



