304 HERMIT THRUSH. 



coarse dry weeds, and here and there a withered leaf, the interior composed 

 of a long delicate kind of grass, which is found growing along the edges of 

 cane-brakes. This grass is arranged in a circular manner, to the whole 

 extent of its length, and gives the inner part of the nest of this bird a 

 remarkable appearance of neatness and finish. The female lays from 

 four to six eggs, of a light blue colour, sprinkled with dark dots towards 

 the large end. The first set are laid early in April, the second about 

 the middle of June ; for, in Lower Louisiana, this species rears two 

 broods in the year. The female is much attached to her nest, and glides 

 off silently from it when closely approached, not, however, unless she 

 thinks herself or her nest observed. The young run after the parents, 

 on the ground, for several days after they leave the nest. 



As soon as the waters of the Mississippi become so swelled as to over- 

 flow ihe banks, the Hermit Thrush retires to the nearest hills, and mixes 

 with many other birds, amongst which the Wood Thrush is pre-eminent. 

 The former is, however, easily recognised at once, by its single plaintive 

 note, heard from the boughs of low trees, on the berries of which it feeds. 

 In fact, its food is altogether composed of different fruits and berries, 

 which are at all seasons abundant in our woods. 



The branches so thickly covered with duU red berries, and upon 

 which two Hermit Thrushes are seen, belong to a shrub which grows in 

 the swampy recesses preferred by these birds. Its leaves fall off at an 

 early period, and are of an ovato-lanceolate form, thin consistence, and 

 deep green colour, their under surface hght grey. The common name 

 of it is Robin Wood. It seldom grows taller than from seven to eight 

 feet, and all the branches, in a favourable season, are thickly covered 

 with the berries, on which many birds, besides the Turdus migratorius, 

 from which it seems to have derived its common name, are seen to feed.' 



Turdus minor, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol i. p. 809 — Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of 

 the United States, p. 75 Lath. Ind. Omitli. vol. i. p 328. 



Little Thrush, Lath. Synops. voL iii. p. 20. 



Hermit Thrush, Turdits solitarius, Wils. Amer. Omith. vol. v. p. 95, PL 43. 

 fig- 2. 



Adult Male. Plate LVIIL Fig. 1. 



Bill of ordinary length, nearly straight, compressed towards the end ; 

 upper mandible with the dorsal outline a little convex, the tip slightly 

 declinate, the margins acute, inflected towards the end, slightly notched 



