148 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



the nest, not because it is essentially different from my own, 

 but to confirm my own observation, and to help clear up 

 the confusion that exists in many districts concerning the 

 identity of the thrushes. It is as follows : 



" The favorite haunts of the Wood Thrush are low, thick-shaded 

 hollows, through which a small brook or rill meanders, overhung 

 with cedar-bushes that are mantled with wild vines. Near such a 

 scene, he generally builds his nest in a laurel or alder bush. Out- 

 wardly, it is composed of withered beech-leaves of the preceding 

 year, laid at bottom in considerable quantities, no doubt to prevent 

 damp and moisture from ascending through, being generally built 

 in low, wet situations : above these are layers of knotty stalks or 

 withered grass, mixed with mud, and smoothly plastered, above 

 which is laid a slight lining of fine black fibrous roots of plants." 



The eggs are usually four in number ; they are of a uni- 

 form light-blue color, without spots, and with a very slight 

 tint of green ; their form is rather long and pointed. The 

 following are the dimensions of a nest complement of four 

 eggs, found in Milton, Mass. : 1.12 by .68 inch, 1.12 by .69 

 inch, 1.07 by 70 inch, 1 by .73 inch. But one brood is 

 usually reared in the season in New England. 



TURDUS PALLASIL Cabanis. 

 The Hermit Thrush. 



Turdus pattasii, Cabanis. Wieggman's Archiv. (1847), I. 205. 



Turdus solitarius, Wilson. Am. Orn., V. (1812) 95 (not of Linnaeus. The figure 

 quoted pi. xliii. fig. 2, belongs to T. Swainsonii). Aud. Syn. (1839). /., Birds 

 Am., III. (1841) 29, pi. 146. 



Turdus minor, Bonaparte. Obs. Wilson (1825), No. 72. /&., Syn. (1828), 75. 

 Nutt. Man., I. (1830) 346. Aud. Orn. Biog., I. (1831) 303; V. 445, pi. 58. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Fourth quill longest; third and fourth a little shorter; second about equal to the 

 sixth (about a thirtieth of an inch shorter than the longest) ; tail slightly emargi- 

 nate; above light olive-brown, with a scarcely perceptible shade of reddish, passing, 

 however, into decided rufous on the rump, upper tail coverts, and tail, and to a less 

 degree on the outer surface of the wings ; beneath white, with a scarcely appreciable 

 shade of pale-buff across the fore part of the breast, and sometimes on the throat; 

 the sides of the throat and the fore part of the breast with rather sharply defined 



