HE ORNITHOLOGIST. 



5) >-? ■» 



_Z' 



Vol. 1. 



TWIN BLUFFS, WIS., OCT., 1885. 



No. 



Wisconsin Birds. 



No. 1 



II. 



(./See£ "Wilson's Thrush, 

 of the Ornithologist). 



III. 



3. THE OKAY-CHEEKED THRUSH. 



The Gray -cheeked or Alice's 

 Thrush, as it is usually called, does 

 not nest in the state, hut is quite 

 common during the migrations 

 which occur early in May and in 

 September; being most abundant in 

 the fall from September 1st until the 

 end of the month. During their stay, 

 their clear and musical song is fre- 

 quently heard pouring forth in 

 transcendent ecstacy from our small 

 groves and woods bordered by fields. 

 Occasionally they are seen flitting 

 along old tangled fence rows in quesl 

 of insects, which constitute theii 

 principal fare. Rarely one enters an 

 orchard for a taste of grapes. 



The song of Alice's Thrush is 

 similar to that of the Wood Thrush, 

 but is not nearly so loud, liquid and 

 penetrating. 



TlJRDUS SWAIXSOXT ALICLE is about 



7.50 x 8.; rather slender, deep olive 

 brown above, becoming reddish on 

 the rump and tail; breast creamy and 

 streaked with large arrow shaped 

 black spots. The creamy breast 

 shades into the white of the under] 

 parts, and the black spots become 

 more obscure on the lower parts of 

 the breast. 



They build a neat nest, (but some- 

 what bulky) composed outwardly of 

 dried weeds and grasses, and lined 

 with fine rootlets. 



The eggs are usually four in num- 

 ber, and in color are of a bluish 

 green, thinly spotted with dots o| 



various shades of brown. Average 

 dimentions about .95 by .08 in. 



IV. 



4a. OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH. 

 TCRDUS SwAINSOXT. 



Closely resembles Alice's Thrush; 

 but may easily be distinguished from 

 the lattes by a creamy tint about the 

 head, and yellowish rings around 

 the eyes. Nest and eggs similar. 

 Average dimentions .91 by .65 in. 



C. L. M". 



For The Ornithologist. 



The Purple Finoh. 



(CARPODACUS PURPUREXS.) 



This bird was formerly abundant 

 in South Eastern Massachusetts but 

 owing to the incursions of the Exotic 

 Sparrow their numbers have been 

 decidly diminished. Its song most 

 are acquainted with, and success has 

 been awarded those who endeavor 

 to keep them in confinement. And 

 as far as song is concerned I am far 

 more pleased with it than with that 

 of the Canary whose high shrill 

 voice is in great contrast with the 

 Linnets sweet liquid notes, which 

 seem fairly to bubble from his throat. 



Perched on the highest branch of 

 some tall elm he spreads his wings 

 and with a beautiful warble he sails 

 down to some fence post or tree, 

 continuing his song during the de- 

 scent. 



How often have I admired his 

 movements as with quivering wings 

 he waltzes back and forth before 

 his chosen mate, singing sweet notes 

 to charm her, and soothing her with 

 his most delightful strains. Woe to 

 any other suitor who appears on the 

 scene at this moment. 



