496 THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 



nw. Alaska, to s. Ungava, and N. F., s. to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, e. Ore., 

 Nev., Utah, Colo., n. Mich., N. Y., and in mts. from Mass, to Pa., and W. 

 Va. ; winters from s. Mex. to S. A. 



Washington, common T. V., Apl. 19-June 2; Sept. 2-Nov. 1. Ossining, 

 tolerably common T. V., May 2-30; Sept. 19-Oct. 22. Cambridge, common 

 T. V., May 12-28; Sept. 15-Oct. 5. N. Ohio, common T. V., Apl. 22-June 

 13; Sept. 2-Oct. 24. Glen Ellyn, common T. V., Apl. 23-Jime 6; Aug. 16- 

 Oct. 24. SE. Minn., common T. V., May 1- ; Sept. 25- . 



Nest, of coarse grasses, moss, rootlets, leaves and bark, lined with root- 

 lets and grasses, in bushes or small trees, about 4 feet up. Eggs, 3-4, greenish 

 blue, more or less spotted and speckled with cinnamon-brown or rufous, 

 *90 x '64. Date, Upton, Maine, June 4. 



Pa'ssing northward in the spring, in small, silent bands, scattered 

 through the woodland undergrowth, whence they quietly slip away, if 

 disturbed, often to the higher brarjches of the trees, these birds easily 

 escape observation. In late September or early October their loud, 

 metallic call-notes may be recognized overhead at night, and during 

 the day the birds themselves may be' found on the edges of the woods 

 or along tangled hedgerows, associated with Sparrows and other 

 migrants. Their summer home is in the coniferous forest of the North, 

 although they do not confine themselves strictly to the evergreen 

 woods, and, avoiding its depths, seek rather the vicinity of clearings 

 well grown up with firs and spruces. Here, day after day, the same 

 musician may be seen pouring forth his ringing song from some com- 

 manding elevation preferably a dead tree top. If approached, he 

 promptly dives down into the underbrush, where he is very likely 

 joined by his mate, and bpth proceed to scold, in a mild way, the 

 chance intruder. Little is ever seen of these shy birds, but fortunately 

 their notes are quite characteristic, and the sole obstacle in distinguish- 

 ing them from those of the Hermit Thrush, a bird frequenting the 

 same localities, lies in the difficulty of tracing them to their source. 



The effect of its loud and beautiful song is much enhanced by the 

 evening hush in which it is most often heard. It lacks the leisurely 

 sweetness of the Hermit Thrush's outpourings, nor is there pause, but 

 in lower key and with greater energy it bubbles on rapidly to a close 

 rather than fading out with the soft melody of its renowned rival. 

 There are also a variety of other notes, the most frequent being a 

 ptik of alarm, pitched higher than a corresponding cluck of the Hermit 

 Thrush. J. DWIGHT, JR. 



759b. Hylocichla guttata pallasi (Cab.}. HERMIT THRUSH. Ad. 

 Upperparts olive-brown, sometimes cinnamon-brown; tail pale rufous, of a 

 distinctly different color from the back ; throat and breast with a slight buffy 

 tinge; feathers of the sides of the throat with wedge-shaped black spots 

 at their tips; those of the breast with large, rounded spots; middle of the 

 belly white; sides brownish gray or brownish ashy. L., 7' 17; W., 3 '56; T., 

 2'74; B., -51. 



Remarks. The Hermit Thrush may always be easily identified by its 

 rufous tail. It is the only one of our Thrushes which has the tail brighter 

 than the back. 



Range. N. and e. N. A. Breeds in Canadian and Transition zones 

 from s. Yukon, to n. Que., s. to cen. Alberta, s. Sask., cen. Minn., n. Mich., 



