172 Scientijic Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



Birds, 1881," even where I do not agree with it, considering it 

 better to follow one recognised list than to create confusion by 

 making any change. 



? Hylocichla mustelina (Gmel.) Wood Thrush. — Examples 

 of the larger speckled thrushes appear to be very rare in this dis- 

 trict, so much so that I can mention but one instance in which I 

 am able to record an occurrence with any certainty. On this 

 occasion I was camping out in the Trinity river bottom, during 

 November, 1879, and being my first expedition to the timber, I 

 was unaware of the rarity of the bird, and so let the specimen 

 escape, as the dogs were running a deer up towards our line at 

 the time. It was very tame, and remained perched upon a bough 

 within a few feet of me for a considerable time. It bore a great 

 resemblance to our song thrush, and was almost certainly the 

 species mentioned above. 



Hylocichla unalasc^e (Gmel.) Dwarf Thrush. — A winter 

 visitor to the timber and wooded creeks, arriving early in No- 

 vember and leaving us during March, Between these dates they 

 may be found in small numbers among low bushes and copse- 

 wood, and especially in the dense thickets of green brier, the 

 berries of which form a large proportion of their food. They are 

 very terrestial in their habits, delighting to pick about upon the 

 ground beneath thick covert, and scratch among the fallen leaves 

 in search of seeds and berries, which seem to constitute their 

 entire food at this season of the year, no remains of insects 

 having been detected in the stomachs of those which I examined. 

 Though generally found in company with other species, espe- 

 cially those belonging to Zonotrichia and Pipilo, it is very rare 

 to see more than one of these birds in the same immediate neigh- 

 bourhood, and should a pair be compelled to take refuge in the 

 same thicket, there is evident jealousy between them. They are 

 shy birds, flitting noiselessly away at the approach of an intruder, 

 though never, if they can help it, leaving the shelter of the clump 

 of bushes which they have chosen as their winter home, and even 

 if driven from it, merely flying up into the trees overhead. They 

 are much attached to particular spots, so that certain places were 

 never uninhabited, while others, to all appearance equally suitable, 

 seemed to hold out no attractions to them ; they are partial to 

 the neighbourhood of water. 



