TT"RI)ID,K-THK TIIIirsHES. 



21 



without uny imul, uiid were lined witli decayed leaves. Tlieir hei.i,dit and ex- 

 ternal diameter measured 4 inches. Tlie diameter of the cavity was 2\ inches 

 and tlie dejith '2\. The e,i,'«;s measured .!M> hy ."0 of an inch. Tliey are of a 

 ]ude bluish-green, sjHickled with cinnamon-brown, chietly at the larger end. 



The nest, supposed to be of this sjxjcies, su^jplieil by Dr. Cooper, is large 

 for the bird; constructed of a l)ase loosely made up of mosses, lichens, and 

 coarse fibres of jdants. It is a strong and compact structure of matted 

 leaves, put together when in a moist and decaying comUtion ; witli these 

 tliere are interwoven roots, twigs, and strong til)res, surrounding the nest 

 witli a stout band and strengthening the rim. In fact, it corresi)onds so well 

 — as do the eggs also — with those of T. Ufitidatii>i, that it is extremely proba- 

 ble that they really l)elong to that species. The only observable difference 

 is the absence of the Ift/pnum mosses characteristic of northern tistnlntns. 



Dall and Bannister mention in their list of Alaska birds that the species 

 is not common there. It was also taken at 8itka and Kodiak by Bischott'. 



The liict that this thrush builds its nest above the ground, and lays 

 spotted eggs, if verified, Wijuld at once warrant our giving it independent 

 rank as a species, instead of considering it as a local mce {)i pallud. 



Turdus pallasi, var. auduboni, Baird. 



BOCKT XOTTNTAIH HEBXIT THBUSH. 



TurduHnndiihovi, Baird, Rev. Am. Birds. 1864, 16. — Rid(jway, P. A. X. S. 1869, 129.— 

 Ki-LKtr, lUust. (tig.). Menilit silens, Swaixson, Philos, Mag. I, 1827, 369 (not Turdus 

 sileiis of ViElLLoT, Encycl. Meth, II, 1823, 647, based on T. mustdinas, WiLs. = T. 

 fumscfna). — Ib. Fauna Bor.-Amer. II, 1831, 186. — Baihd, Bird.s N. Amer. 1858, 

 213, an*l 922. — Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, 325 (La Parada), and 1859, 325 (Oaxaca). — 

 Ib. Catal. Am. Birds, 1861, 2, no. 9. 



Sp. Char. Colors iniich as in Turdns nanus, but the upper tail-coverti? scarcely diflerent 

 from the back. Tail yellowish-rufous. Length of wing, 4.18; tail, 3.(30; bill from nostril, 

 .45 : tarstjs. 1.2G. 



IIab. Rocky ^Mountains, from Fort Bridger south into Mexico. Orizaba (Alpine regions), 



SlMICHHAST. 



This is a very distinct race of thru.shes, although it may be questioned 

 whether it be truly a species. It is, however, sufficiently di-stinct from the 

 eastern and western Hermit Thrushes to warrant our giving it a place of 

 some kind in the systems. 



The young ])lumage differs from that of i^allad as do the adults of the 

 two, and in about the same way. The olive is very much purer, with a 

 greenish instead of a brownish cast, and the tail is very much lighter, 

 inclining to dull ochraceous instead of rufous ; this yellowish instead of 

 rufous cast is apparent on the wings also. The yellowish " drops *' on head, 

 back, etc., are very much narrower than in paUad, while the greater coverts, 

 instead of being distinctly tipped with yellowish, merely just perceptibly 

 fade in color at tips. 



