GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH. 407 



HAB. Eastern United States to the Plains, north to Manitoba, Ontario, 

 Anticosti and Newfoundland. 



Nest, on or near the ground, composed of grass, leaves and rootlets, rather 

 loosely pat together. 



Eggs, four or five, greenish-blue, unspotted. 



With the exception of the Robin, the Veery is the most numerous 

 of the Thrushes which visit Southern Ontario. It arrives here 

 during the first week in May, and for a few days is quite common in 

 the woods everywhere. Many soon pass on farther north to breed, 

 but some remain and locate themselves among the undergrowth in 

 moist, uncleared places, where they spend the summer. On their 

 first arrival, they remain for a few days quietly in the woods, but, as 

 soon as nesting begins, the clear, loud veery is heard at all hours of 

 the day. The song has a sharp metallic ring, and at first is pleasant 

 to listen to, but when heard in some favored locality, where several 

 males are answering each other, it becomes monotonous through 

 frequent repetition. It is rather a tender bird, and is one of the first 

 to move off in the fall. The young are able to shift for themselves in 

 August, and by the end of September all are gone. 



Dr. Coues found this species breeding abundantly in the vicinity 

 of Pembina in June, and Mr. Thompson also reports it as common 

 throughout Manitoba, but farther north I have not heard of its 

 having been observed. 



TURDUS ALICIA (BAIRD.). 

 312. Gray-cheeked Thrush. (757) 



Similar to the Olive-backed Thrush, but without any buflfy tint about 

 head, or yellowish ring around eye ; averaging a trifle larger, with longer, 

 slenderer bill. , 



HAB. Eastern North America, west to the Plains and Alaska, north to 

 the Arctic coast, south, in winter, to Costa Rica. Breeds chiefly north of the 

 United States. 



Nest, in a low tree or bush, compactly built of fine sedges, leaves, stems 

 and dry grass, interwoven and lined with fine grass. Sometimes mud is used 

 as in the Robin's nest. 



Eggs, three or four, greenish-blue, marked with spots of reddish-brown. 



It is still a question with many ornithologists whether or not this 

 should be separated from the Olive-backed, or regarded as only a 

 variety of that species. The Committee of the American Ornitho- 



