56 J. A. ALLEN, CATALOGUE OF 



47. Turdus Palla\ii Cabanis. Hermit Thrush. Abund- 

 ant in spring and autumn. Seen in small parties from April 

 15th to May 10th in spring, and in fall from October 1st 

 till November, sometimes till the 10th 5 commonly in swamps 

 and low woods, and occasionally in open, plowed fields. Never 

 sings while here, and is quite unsuspicious. Have not found it 

 breeding here. 



48. Turdus fuscescens Stephens. Tawny Thrush. Wilson's 

 Thrush, Veery. Abundant summer visitant. Breeds in swamps 

 and low woods, nesting on or very near the ground, beginning 

 to sit the first week in June : have found its eggs May 29th. 

 Arrives about May 10th, and leaves early in September. Dur- 

 ing the summer months is quite arboreal in its habits, collect- 

 ing a large part of its insect food among the foliage of the 

 trees. It is the most numerous here of all the woodland 

 Thrushes, and the only one that breeds here in abundance, and 

 the only one, excepting T. mitstelinu$. Have found three 

 nests in an hour*s walk. 



49. Turdus Swainsonii Cab. ( Turdus Swainsonii and 

 T. alicicc of Baird.) Swainson's Thrush. Olive-backed Thrush. 

 Common in spring and fall. Seen in spring from May 15th to 

 June 3d, usually in small parties about woodlands, but often 

 frequents open fields, and even gardens ; is quite unsuspicious, 

 and seldom sings while here. 



After a critical examination of a very extensive series of spec- 

 imens, including many fresh, I am forced to the conclusion 

 that T. alicicc and T Swainsonii form but one species. I have 

 carefully studied the bills, feet, wings, size, and proportions for 

 specific differences, and find that, though there is more or less 

 variation in all these, as there is among individuals of almost 

 every species, there is nothing that approaches to constant spe- 

 cific difference. Indeed, the principal character that has ever 

 been urged as separating them is that of the color. But this I 

 find is not a constant character. I have had specimens before 

 me during the last year exhibiting every gradation in the color 

 of the breast, sides of the neck, eye circle, &c., from the strongly 

 buff-tinted of the true T. Sivainsonii to the pale gray of the 

 typical "alicia" where the buff was scarcely perceptible or 

 quite obsolete. 



Prof. Baird, in his original description of alicicc (P. R. R. 

 Exp. and Surv. IX. 217) observes : " These parts [sides of 

 the neck and breast] are not of as pure white as the belly, 



