8 TUEDUU PALLASII. 



and Squirrels meet with very little opposition when they feel inclined to make a meal of freshly 

 laid Thrushes' eggs. The birds seem aware of their deficiencies in this respect, for the nest is 

 usually placed in such a position that it is entirely concealed from view, especially from directly 

 above and below, points from which it would be likely to be discovered by the pilfering Jays 

 or squirrels. It is a singular fact that those birds which carefully conceal their nests, display 

 cowardice when their eggs or young are molested. On the other hand, birds like the Jays, 

 Crows, Hawks, Robins, etc., that build in conspicuous places, all make loud outcries whenever 

 their breeding places are approached, and defend them bravely. It is also observable that many 

 species that place their nests upon the ground, trusting to the protective color of their plumage 

 and eggs, invariably endeavor to draw away their enemies' attention by feigning lameness, as 

 practised by the Knifed Grouse, Bay-winged Bunting, the various species of Plover, etc. 



The young Olive-backs are fully fledged by the last of July, and by the 20th of September 

 both young and old commence their southward flight. The majority leave before the middle of 

 October, but I have met with stragglers who seemed loath to leave their summer homes, although 

 the cold winds of November had begun to blow, and the autumn leaves were fast falling to the 

 ground. The food of this species consists principally of insects, but an occasional dinner of ripe 

 berries does not go amiss if it comes in their way. 



I give this Thrush as a bird of Florida upon the authority of Mr. George Boardman, who 

 has taken two in the state in February : one at St. Augustine, and one at Green Cove Springs. 



TURDUS PALLASII. 



Hermit Thrush. 



"Turdus Pallasii CABAXIS, Wiegmann's Archiv, 1847, I, I, 205." BAIRD, Birds of North America, 1858, 212. 

 Turdus nanus AOD., Oru. Biog. v, 1839, 201. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, not robust. Bill, not long but rather slender. Tongue, bind, and fringed for about one-fourth 

 its length. Breadth of sternum, not greatly exceeding the depth of the marginal indentations. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, dark reddish brown, which becomes bright rufous on the rump and tail; the latter 

 sometimes has a decided purplish tinge. Beneath, white, with numerous triangular spots of brown on the throat 

 and breast. These spots vary in shade, number, and size, being larger and darker on the middle of the breast, and 

 lighter on the lower part of it. Those on the sides of the throat near the base of the bill show a tendency to cluster 

 and form maxillary stripes. A ring around the eye, and the under tail coverts, pale bufl'. A spot in front of the eye 

 white, intermingled with dark feathers. The feathers of the crown have also darker centres. Sides of head, neck, 

 and flanks of the same color as the back, but some shades paler. Feathers of the ear coverts, olivaceous, with narrow 

 central lines of pale yellow. There is a broad band of buff beneath the wings, commencing on the inner sides, and, 

 spreading as it advances, reaches nearly to the outer quill feathers, extending over nearly three-fourths of the inner 

 marginal length of the primaries. Iris and bill, dark brown, with the lower mandible of the latter yellow. Feet, pale 

 brown. 



Young. Similar, but darker on the back, with a tinge of rufous over the chin, throat and breast. The two rows 

 of coverts are also tipped with yellowish, forming bars across the wings. The bands on the under side of the wings 

 are deeper in color. The outer sides of the wings are decidedly rufous, very nearly as dark as that of the upper 

 portions of the tail. Feathers of the wings and tail, slightly tipped with yellowish white. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This species may be distinguished from T. Swainsonii by the foxy tail and buff under tail coverts. It differs from 

 T. funcfscens in the darker and larger spots on the breast, besides which fusceseens is more uniform in color on the 

 upper parts. I have never met with this species in the nesting plumage, but judge that it differs from the adult much 

 as in the preceding species. The Hermit Thrush has a distribution somewhat similar to the Olive-backed, but is, if 

 anything, more Southern during the breeding season. It winters in great numbers in Florida, and the other extreme 

 southern states ; some also pass into Cuba. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty-eight specimens. Length, 7-01; stretch, 11-40; wing, 3-64; tail, 2-08; bill, 

 53; tarsus, 11-8. Longest specimen, 7 -CO; greatest extent of wings, 12-88 j greatest length of wing, 11-00; of tail, 

 3-17; ofbill,-75; of tarsus, 1-25. Length of smallest specimen, G-<;o; smallest extent of wings, 10-77; smallest length 

 of wing, 3--'7; of tail, 2-40; of bill, -40; of tarsus, 1-00. 



