1150 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



throughout the State. Mr. Ridgway noted their arrival in Knox 

 County, April 21, 1881, and they were observed toward the last of 

 May (Bulletin N. 0. C., I., January, 1882, p. 19). Mr. W. 0. Wallace 

 noted their arrival at Wabash, April 27, 1894, where they were still 

 found in June. The earliest record from the State is that noted by 

 Prof. B. W. Evermann from Carroll County, April 9, 1885 (The Auk, 

 January, 1889, p. 29). The following additional dates of first arrivals 

 are given: Brookville, April 28, 1897; Spearsville, April 29, 1894, 

 May 6, 1895; Moore's Hill, May 1, 1893; Bloomington, May 13, 1886; 

 Lafayette, April 29, 1893, April 30, 1892; Richmond, May 7, 1897; 

 Sedan, April 26, 1896; April 28, 1889, 1897; Laporte, May 1, 1894; 

 Chicago, 111., April 29, 1886; Petersburg, Mich., April 26, 1889, 1897, 

 May 2, 1893. 



Of these localities they are reported as common from Richmond, 

 Sedan, Laporte and Petersburg, Mich. Mr. Coale formerly found 

 it .a rather common migrant in the vicinity of Chicago, but of late 

 years it seems to be very rare. Mr. J. G. Parker, Jr., thinks it is a 

 rare summer resident there. At its breeding places it has the reputa- 

 tion of being one of the most famous woodland songsters. At times 

 it sings far into the night, and has now the name of "Nightingale." 

 All its notes are said to be "clear, bell-like, resonant, distinct, yet 

 soft and of indescribable sadness." Mr. Ridgway says 'their song con- 

 sists of an indescribably delicate, metallic utterance of the syllables, 

 ta-weeT-ah, ta-weel'-ah, twil'-ah, twil-ah, accompanied by a fine trill 

 that renders it truly seductive. While they are with us, as migrants, 

 we do not hear their famous song. Their food is largely insects. Prof. 

 King found that of eight he examined, seven ate 2 ants, 9 beetles 

 and one harvestman, and one ate raspberries, and two, dogwood berries 

 (Geol. of Wis., I., p. 471). They begin passing south in August, and 

 most have gone early in September, but some occasionally linger until 

 October. 



The latest record at Sedan is September 7, 1889; at Cincinnati, 0., 

 September 1, 1879, and at Lafayette, Ind., they were moderately com- 

 mon October 2, 1894. 



316, (756</). Turdus fuscescens salicicola (RIDGW.). 



Willow Thrush. 



Similar to T. fuscescens, but above, russet-olive; chest, very pale 

 buff with broader wedge-shaped markings of Drown darker than the 

 back. 



Length, wing, 3.80-4.25; tail, 2.70-3.30. 



