I04 



Bird -Lore 



The geographical are the only variations that are 



that are inherited, 

 nameable. 



My out-of-door acquaintance with the Thrushes is of years' standing, 

 and I have enjoyed their company in many parts of the United States and 

 Canada. Furthermore, I have had access to large series of skins, and I now 



BREEDING RANGES OF THE OLIVE-BACKED THRUSHES (Hylocichla ustulata) 

 I. H. u. ustulata, Z. H. u. swainsoni. 3. H. u. almce 



hope, by outlining their distribution and prominent characteristics of plumage 

 and habit, to impart, even to the casual reader, some idea of the meaning 

 of geographical distribution and the significance of subspecies. 



Let us first turn to the Wood Thrush {Hylocichla mustelina) , one of the 

 species most familiar to every bird -student of eastern North America. It is 

 known afield by its large size, tawny back and white breast heavily spotted 

 with black, and its breeding range is the smallest of any of the five species. 



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