Feb. 1885.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



27 



respect to material, and yet looks entirely rliffor- 

 ent, not being so compact, but far neater in ap- 

 jiearance. 



Three eggs, comprising a set taken in Kalama- 

 zoo County, are faintly marked with obscure 

 brown blotches, principally at the larger end ; 

 l)ut in four eggs from Wexford County, the entire 

 surface is more or less thickly spotted with um- 

 ber. In ground color, the eggs more nearly re- 

 semble those of the Catbird than any other 

 species, but are not of so dark a shade of green. 

 Tlie Swainson's Thrush is the only one of the 

 genus which lays spotted eggs. 



In the Fall migrations, the birds are found in 

 the southern counties as late as October 1st, and 

 a few stragglers occasionally even later. This 

 Thrush is undoubtedly the most eccentric in its 

 geographical range of any in its family famed for 

 migrating. We learn that the Olive-back is 

 known to Winter in Venezuela, while its northern 

 liaunts extend (probably) nearly to the Arctic 

 circle. 



Ilylocichla uualiiSiYe pallasi (Cab.) Ridgw. — Her- 

 mit Thrush, Rufus-tailed Thrush. 



Next to the Robin this is the first species to ar- 

 rive in the Spring, and it occasionally 'appears as 

 early as the last week in March, allhough the 

 Hermits are rarely seen in any numbers till the 

 middle of April. The species appear to migrate 

 with great deliberation, and specimens can often 

 be found loitering in the southern counties as late 

 as May 10th. It is a common occurrence to ob- 

 serve numbers about the dooryards in villages, 

 and even in sequestered fiivored locations in large 

 cities during the latter part of April and early 

 JIay. These silent wayfarers often make a neigh- 

 Ijorhood theii'- temporary home for a week or 

 more. Such protracted stays occur both in Spring 

 and Pall, the autumnal migrants usually remain- 

 ing with us for several weeks, the severe weather 

 of November often finding the hardy fellows fre- 

 quenting hedgerows and thickets at the edges of 

 woods. 



Though silent while migrating, with the excep- 

 tion of the call note occasionally uttered, the 

 birds bre.ak info full song on reaching the breed- 

 ing haunts, and from May l.ifh to July 20fh the 

 woods are filled with the sweetly modulated notes 

 of these charming singers. The ceremony of 

 mating is accomplished with expedition, and soon 

 after the birds are at their nest building. As yet 

 I have not heard of a nest being found south of 

 4-) north latitude, and it is reasonable to suppose 

 that the species very rarely, if ever, remain as a 

 Summer resident in our southern counties. It is 

 only in the middle and northern portions of the 



State that the Hermit is found plentiful, where 

 in Pine lands its beautiful song can be heard al- 

 most constantly. 



The nest of this species is more difficult to find 

 than that of any other member of the fiamily. 

 Placed on the ground, always in a retired situa- 

 tion, concealed by small bushes, weeds and grass 

 its location can only be discovered by the acci- 

 dental flushing of the old bird as you walk near the 

 little home where she patiently sits, or by watch- 

 ing the parents as they bi-ing material for the 

 nest. The latter method would be next to im- 

 possible, for the birds are unusually shy and very 

 diflicult to study. A nest found by Mr. W. A. 

 Gunn, May 30th, 1879, was entirely concealed by 

 a fallen withered Pine branch. A nest which 

 came under my notice June 10th, 1882, in Mont- 

 calm County, was placed beneath a small bush, 

 and the rim of the structure was even with the 

 surface ot the ground. 



The eggs in every instance were three in num- 

 ber, and are of a beautiful blue color, much re- 

 sembling in form and color those of the tawny 

 Thrush, but a little smaller. The nest is generally 

 composed of grass, fibrous roots, fine twigs and 

 some moss. Those that I have met with are not 

 strongly put together. 



This beautiful singer is one of our most com- 

 mon birds north of 44", where, though not known 

 by the settler, it trills sweet music among the 

 stately Pines and gaily passes the pleasant Sum- 

 mer months among Nature's wildest surround- 

 ings. — Forest and Stream. 



Notes on Birds of the Sea Islands. 



nV W.VLTEIt IIOXIE, FROGIIOUE, SO. VAU. — I'AKT II. 



Turnsfone, (509,) connnou migrant. Have 

 taken it in .July, but not found it breeding. Re- 

 turns in October and lingers till frost. 



Wilson's Snipe, (520rt,) Winter visitor, October 

 to April. Partially returns in mid-winter, but a 

 few can alwa3'S be found. The ponds and 

 marshes of St. Helena cannot be excelled fiU' 

 Snipe shooting. 



•Red-breasted Snipe, (327,) arrives about the 10th 

 of April and returns as early as the end of July, 

 lingering till frost. 



Robin Snipe, (529,) from the first week in April 

 till the middle of May In the Fall from Sep- 

 tember to the middle of November. About a 

 week earlier in the Spring than the preceding and 

 does not arrive in the Fall till a full month or 

 more later. 



The Curlew Sandpiper (540,) is ascribed fo this 

 locality, but I have not yet taken it. 



