TT-RniD-K-TIIh: THRUSHES. 21 



without any imid, iiiul were lined witli decayed leaves. Tlieir licijilit and ex- 

 ternal diameter measured 4 inches. The diameter of the cavity was 2A inches 

 and tlie dei)th 2\. Tiie e,mi;s measured .!HI by .70 of an inch. Tliey are of a 

 jiale bluish-green, speckled with cinnamon-lu'own, cliieHy at tlie larger end. 



The nest, supposed to be of tliis s])ecies, supjjlied l>y Dr. Cooper, is large 

 for tlie bird; constructed of a base loosely made up of mosses, licliens, and 

 coarse fibres of plants. It is a strong and compact structure of matted 

 leaves, put together when in a moist and decaying comb'tion ; with these 

 there are interwoven roots, twigs, and strong fibres, surrounding the nest 

 with a stout band and strengthening the rim. In fact, it corresponds so well 

 — as do the eggs also — with tiiose of 7'. iisfitlfifus, that it is extremely pioba- 

 ble that tliey really belong to that species. Tiie only observable dill'erence 

 is the absence of the Ili/pnnm mosses characteristic of northern natuhitioi. 



Dall and Uanni.ster mention in their list of Alaska birds that the sjtecies 

 is not common there. It was also taken at Sitka and Kodiak by Bischoif. 



The fact that this thrush builds its nest a])ove the ground, and lays 

 spotted eggs, if verified, woulil at once warrant our giving it independent 

 rank as a species, instead of considering it as a local race of 2>idlasi. 



Turdus pallasi, var. auduboni, Baiud. 



BOCKY MOUNTAIN HEBHIT THBUSH. 



Turdii.iiiii'hilmiii, lUlHli, 1{('V. Am. IJirds, ]Sfi4, 1(1. ~ liiixiw.n', P. A. X. S. 1869, 129.— 

 Kl.l.lni', Illust. (lif;.). Mci-ithi sileiis, Sw.vin.mix, I'liilos. Miig. 1, 1827, 3()9 (not Tiiri/ns 

 sikiis u\' VlKU.un; Kiu'ycl. Mtitli. II, 182;i, (547, Iwiscil on T. iiiiiifcliniifi, Wii.s. = T. 

 /useciivim). — lit. Fauna Boi-.-Amer. II, 1831, 186. — H.vnti), liiiJ.s N. Aincr. 1858, 

 213, anil 922. - Scl.vtki!, P. Z. S. 1858, 325 (La Paiatla), ami 1859, 325 (Oa.\ara). — 

 lu. Catal. Am. Hirds, 1861, 2, no. 9. 



Sp. Char. Colors iiiiich as in Tiinlns nmins, but tlio uppor tiiil-covert.^ scarcely diUbrent 

 from till- liack. Tail jcllowi.sh-nil'ous. Luiigtli ol'wiiiij:, 4.18; tail, .'J. GO; bill IVoiii iio.stril, 

 .45 ; tarsus. l.'Jti. 



IIaii. l{(i(4vy Jlouiituins, from Fort Brldger south into Mexico. Orizaba (Alpine rej^ions), 



Sl'.MRIlHAST. 



This is a very distinct race of thrushes, altliough it may be questioned 

 wlietlier it be truly a species. It is, however, sulHciently distinct from the 

 eastern and western Hermit Thrushes to warrant our iiivino; it a place of 



DO 1 



some kind in the systems. 



The young plumage differs from that of paUaxi as do the adults of tiie 

 two, and in about the same way. The olive is ver}- much purer, with a 

 greenish instead ot a brownish cast, and the tail is very much lighter, 

 inclining to dull ochraceous instead of rufous ; this yellowish instead of 

 rufous cast is apparent on the wings also. The yellowish "drojis" on head, 

 liack, etc., are very much narrower than in paf/asi., while the greater coverts, 

 instead of being distinctly tipped with yellowish, merely just perceptibly 

 fade in color at tips. 



