Three Tame Hermit Thrushes 67 



on me entirely to put food almost down his throat, but he was 

 a most gentle, affectionate little bird. The strongest would 

 catch a fly on the window, or spring into the air after it. One 

 bird ate so many blueberries from the cup that they made 

 him ill, and one bird was always in the box picking up ants' 

 eggs. The largest bird ate more or less earth from the dust 

 bath. 



All the birds were peculiarly winsome. They were sensi- 

 tive to the slightest caress, and constantly expressed their 

 affection by snuggling down in my lap, my hand, or against 

 my throat. They alighted on my head and shoulders. 



When I took the Thrushes I determined to study their 

 characteristics thoroughly, but I realized that I must avoid 

 petting them too much if I were to return them to the woods 

 in an independent condition. For this reason I avoided 

 caressing them. 



When one Thrush called in a clear, sweet whistle, p-e-e-p! 

 p-e-e-p! another would answer with a soft, husky, breathing 

 sound, phee, phee. Occasionally one would call pit! \pii! pit! 

 an almost inaudible, ventriloquial call. They also used the 

 call note chuck! 



The ninth day after I brought the Thrushes home I put 

 one in the woods for a short time. He seemxd dazed, at first, 

 at his outdoor surroundings. He listened to the murmuring 

 of the leaves, the sighing of the breeze among the tree tops ; 

 he noticed the swaying of the ferns and grasses. Once in a 

 while he snapped at a mosquito or an ant, but he was so well 

 fed that mostly he was content to snuggle down among the 

 dry leaves and just look. 



At the end of two-and-one-half hours I returned to the 

 woods for him. I called, "Come Pet!" A silvery little peep! 

 came in answer. The young Thrush had moved but a few 

 feet. The next four days I carried all the Thrushes to the 

 woods for all or part of the day. 



At this age a young Hermit Thrush is olive-brown above, 

 speckled with golden-buffy. The tail is rufous, and the tail cov- 

 erts, a very bright rufous. The throat is slightly buffy, the up- 



