DWARF THRUSH. 203 



and a half eighths in breadth, and, instead of being much rounded, 

 as those of the Wood Thrush are, they are elongated and rather 

 pointed at the smaller end, while their colour, instead of being pale 

 blue, as in that species, is a rather deep verdigris-blue, though not 

 quite so dark as that of the eggs of the Cat Bird, T. felivox. To the 

 closet naturalist, however, these circumstances would prove of little 

 importance. In its habits the Tawny Thrush is much more terres- 

 trial, evincing at all times a propensity to spend its time on the 

 ground rather than on trees or even bushes. As I have already in- 

 formed you, this species possesses good vocal powers, and according 

 to my friend Mr Nuttall, is now and then, in the State of Massachu- 

 setts, where it breeds, compared to the nightingale of Europe, on ac- 

 count of its sweet and somewhat melancholy evening ditties. I am 

 induced to think that the authors of the Faima Boreali-Americana have 

 mistaken the female of this bird for a distinct species, which they have 

 called Merula minor, considering it as Turdus minor of Gmelin. I am 

 the more confident of this, because the figm'e given in that work, which 

 is excellent, coi responds exactly with the female specimens that have 

 come under my observation. The male Tawny Thrush measures from 

 seven inches and two-twelfths in length, to seven inches and a half, 

 and in extent of wings from twelve to twelve and a half inches. The 

 female is nearly an inch shorter, and correspondingly smaller in all her 

 parts, although in coloTirs and markings precisely similar to the male. 

 According to Dr Richardson, " this species (Wilson's Thrush, Fauna 

 Bor.-Amer. ii. 182) arrives on the banks of the Saskatchewan in May,, 

 and during summer haunts the alder thickets and dense willow groves 

 that skirt the marshes. It doubtless breeds there ; but I had no op- 

 portunity of finding its nest, nor can I speak of the extent of its range 

 to the northward." I may add here that Wilson was quite mistaken 

 as to the musical powers of this Thrush, when he stated that it has no 

 song. My young friend, Dr Thomas M. Brewer of Boston, says, " It 

 is not uncommon in Massachusetts, where it builds its nest in a low 

 bush, usually about one foot from the ground, in a very retired place. It 

 is with difficulty started from the nest, can easily be caught alive ; but 

 when once driven off does not again make its appearance during the 

 presence of the intruder."" 



I have by me a female specimen of a Thrush sent me by Dr Town- 

 send, who procured it on the Columbia River on the 19th June 1838, 



