202 DWARF THRUSH. 



European writer, who has not studied their habits and procured the 

 birds in our woods, can correctly characterize, unless he may have 

 a great number of specimens, ticketed when obtained, and shewing 

 the differences as to size and markings that occur in old and yoimg in- 

 dividiials, males and females, and which are the more difficult to judge 

 of on account of the general mutual resemblance of birds of this genus. 

 Experience has proved to me that the size, and to some exten,t, the 

 colour of the spots on the breast of our small Thrushes differ in winter 

 and summer, as the tips of the feathers become more or less worn. 

 Nature, however, has provided each species with characters, which may 

 with care and patience be understood. 



The Wood Thrush, Turdus mustelinus of Gmeltn, T. melodus of 

 Wilson, is easily distinguished from oiir other small spotted Thrushes 

 by its greater size, pvu-er colours, and more decided spots. It measures 

 eight inches in length, and thirteen in extent of wings. During the 

 breeding season, it is found from the head waters of the Missouri to 

 most parts of our Eastern Atlantic Districts, and beyond them as far 

 as Nova Scotia, while, on the other hand, it is abundant in the Texas. 

 I saw none in Newfoundland or Labrador, and as no mention is made 

 of this species in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, it may be supposed 

 that it does not extend its northward movements much beyond the 

 skirts of the upper parts of the St Lawrence River. This Thrush 

 spends the winter in considerable numbers in the lower parts of Loui- 

 siana, in Alabama, and especially in the southern parts of the Floridas, 

 where I have heard its loud, clear, distinct notes in the months of De- 

 cember and January. My friend Dr Bachman informs me that the 

 Wood Thrush arrives in South Carolina about the beginning of April, 

 when it sings sweetly for a few weeks, after which it disperses or dis- 

 appears, and that, although it breeds in the middle and mountainous 

 districts of that State, he has known no instance of its doing so in the 

 maritime parts. The eggs of this species measure one inch in length, 

 by five and a quarter eighths in breadth, and are, as I have already 

 said, of a beautiful uniform light blue colour. 



The Tawny Thrush, Turdus mustelinus of Wilson, Turdus Wil- 

 sonii oi Bonaparte and Swainson, and T. minor oi Gmelin. The 

 eggs of this species differ greatly in size, colour, and markings from 

 those of the Wood Thrush, T. mustelinus, or the Hermit Thrush, T. 

 solitarius of Wilson. They measure seven-eighths in length by five 



