204 DWARF THRUSH. 



and which he considered as new, but which I find to differ in no other 

 respect from specimens of Turdus Wilsonii than in having some of the 

 spots on the sides of the neck and the breast of a darker brown. This 

 skin measures seven inches two and a half twelfths in length. 



Our Common Hermit Thrush, Turdus soUtarius of Wilson, is the 

 next in size, and the smallest of the North American species, with the 

 exception of that presently to be described. The males measure seven 

 inches in length, ten and a half in alar extent, the females considerably 

 less. This species is easily distinguished from the last by its having 

 little or no rufous tint on the fore neck and breast, and by the spots 

 there being decided, and of a blackish-brown colour. 



I am of opinion that no distinctive character can be obtained from the 

 colouring of the inner webs of the quills as seen from beneath, those 

 parts being more or less yellowish or buffy in all the species. 



Lastly, the smallest of our Tlrrushes is that represented in Plate 

 CCCCXIX, under the name of " Little Tawny Thrush, Turdus minor, 

 Gmelin ;" but which, after a more careful examination and comparison, 

 I am induced to consider as a new species, to which, on account of its 

 small size, may be given the name of " Dwarf Thrush, T. nanus.'''' It 

 is nearly allied to the Hermit Thrush, but is smaller, and has the 

 second and sixth quills nearly equal, whereas in T. soUtarius the second 

 quill is considerably shorter than the sixth. It must be confessed, 

 however, that it differs very little from that species, excepting as to 

 size, and especially that of the bill. It is extremely rare in our Atlan- 

 tic districts, where, however, I have procured a few individuals. In- 

 deed, the first intimation which I received respecting it was from my 

 friend Dr Charles Pickering of Philadelphia, who, having procured 

 one, had kept its wings and head, the smallness of which struck me at 

 once. I was then far from imagining that its native haunts were the 

 valleys of the Columbia River, from which, however, I have since re- 

 ceived it through the kindness of my friend Dr Townsend, who has 

 also sent me its measurements, " length 6 inches, alar extent 9," or one 

 inch less in length, and one and a half less in breadth than the Hermit 

 Thrush, with which it has probably been hitherto confounded. 



TuEDUs Nanus. 



Male. Plate CCCCXIX. Fig. 1. 



