PASSERES — TURDID^. 309 



295. (757.) Hylocichla alici^ (Baird), 3. 



Gray-cheeked Thrush. 

 Synonyms: Turdus swainsoni var. alicise, T. alicise. 



Alice's Thrush. 

 Baird, Rev. N. Am. Birds, 1864, 23. 



Dr. Wheaton records this thrush as a "Common spring 

 and fall migrant." It has been universally reported as a 

 rare migrant. I have no doubt that closer acquaintance 

 w^ith it will prove it to be less rare. It is not easy to distin- 

 guish between this and the next species. I have found it 

 only in the brushy woods in company with the Olive-backed. 

 It appears to keep closer to the woods than the Olive- 

 backed, feeding there on or near the ground. Its food 

 probably consists of insects and worms largely. 



Migration records are not satisfactory. Lorain 

 county dates fall close to May 10, which is apparently 

 near the end of the spring migration. I have no autumn 

 dates. 



296. (758a.) Hylocichla swainsoni (Cab.). 4. 



Olive-backed Thrush. 



Synonyms: Turdus swainsoni. 



Swainson's Thrush, Little Thrush, Swamp Robin. 



Wheaton, Ohio Agri. Report, 1860 (1861), 379, hypothetical, Re- 

 print, 5. 



"Abundant migrant" characterizes this species in a few 

 localities, as it apparently did for Columbus, at least when 

 Dr. Wheaton was working. At most localities it is only 

 common. This thrush is often seen in the parks and shade. 

 trees during its migration, where I have seen it feeding upon 

 the tender shoots of trees, probably the young buds of the 

 elms. Rev. Mr. Henninger found it eating gum berries in 

 September. Its food must consist of insects cap- 

 tured on the ground or in trees indifferently. I have 

 often seen it making sallies after flying insects, much after 

 the manner of the flycatchers. 



This thrush appears at Oberlin during the last five days 

 of April and has gone north by May 23. It returns early 

 in September and tarries about four weeks. 



