1154 Ki-i'ORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



In spring their food is like that of the last-described species. The 

 large number of ants, caterpillars and beetles eaten are especial fea- 

 tures. In fall they fed largely upon fruits, which constituted 60 

 per cent, of their food. These were principally wild cherries, elderber- 

 ries, blackberries, and wild grapes. These last constituted over half 

 of their food (Bulletin No. 3, 111. S. Lab. K". H., pp. 131, 135, 136). 

 (See also King's Geol. of Wis,. I., pp. 475, 476.) 



They appear about our northern boundary the last days of August 

 and early part of September, sometimes all the month, are found over 

 the State. Occasionally they are found after October 1. The latest 

 fall date at Brookville is September 13, 1897; in Warren County, 

 September 25, 1897 (V. K. Barnett); at Sedan they were first noted 

 September 3, 1889, and September 16, 1892, and 1894, and the latest 

 date seen was September 26, 1894. At Cincinnati, 0., in 1879, they 

 were first seen September 2, and last, September 21. In 1895 they 

 were first seen at Chicago, 111., August 29, and were last noted there 

 October 5 (Elliot Blackwelder). In 1896 they were first seen there 

 August 29 and last observed September 30 (C. A. Tallman). They 

 appear to be much more numerous in fall than in spring. 



They have a loud and beautiful song that is heard about their sum- 

 mer homes. I have never heard them sing during the migrations, 

 though it is possible the later migrants sometimes do. The song of 

 Alice's and the Olive-backed Thrushes are said to be different. Mr. 

 Bicknell thinks that of the present species "is louder, more spontane- 

 ous and lyrical. Almost the first note is the loudest and most liquid, 

 .after which the melody becomes rapidly finer,' seeming to dissolve 

 upon the air like the spent vibration of a stringed instrument. The 

 song of the Gray- cheeked Thrush commences low and reaches its 

 loudest, and I think its highest, part a little beyond half its continu- 

 ance. It is, throughout, much fainter and of less favorable delivery 

 than the song of the Olive-backed species" (The Auk, April, 1884, 

 pp. 130, 131). 



319. (7596). Turdus aonalaschkse paUasii (CAB.). 



Hermit Thrush. 



Adult. Above, olive-brown; upper tail-coverts and tail, rufous; buff 

 ring around the eye; below, whitish; throat and front of breast, buffy; 

 sides, olive-brown or olive-gray; sides of throat with blackish stripes 

 and breast with wedge-shaped, triangular blackish spots. 



Length, 6.50-7.65; wing, 3.40-3.90; tail, 2.55-3.15. 



RANGE. Eastern North America, from Gulf Coast to mouth of St. 



