Io8 PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



was last heard on the same date. In 1901 and 1904 the song was 

 also continued to the same date. In two other seasons it has 

 not been heard after August 10 and 11 respectively. But in 

 three of the years it has continued to the 17th, and in one year, 

 1902, was heard repeated a few times at dawn on the 20th. 

 The date to which the song extends varies but little, therefore, 

 based on the records of eleven seasons, it having continued up 

 to August 15 in five of the years and to August 17 in three other 

 years. The Hermit sings the latest in the season of all the 

 thrushes. Very rarely have I heard the song given at all after 

 this definite ending even to the close of the season. On October 

 6, 1903, however, I have it recorded that "a Hermit once sang* 

 its full song today." 



The birds are located in the mixed woodland of the valle5'S, 

 on the drier slopes of Boy Mountain to almost its summit, and 

 on the lower slopes of the Presidential Range and other moun- 

 tains a short distance up from the clearings of the valleys. As 

 soon as one proceeds much beyond the beginning of his ascent 

 on the mountain trails, he leaves the song of the Hermit behind, 

 and it is the song of the Olive-backed Thrush which goes with 

 him on his further ascent almost to the limit of tree growth. 

 Indeed, I have seldom heard the song of the Hermit Thrush 

 after I had penetrated any of the forests a short distance. But 

 on the borders of well sunned woodland, from which the birds 

 come forth to do much of their singing in the open, is rather the 

 home of this thrush in the Jefferson region. Nesting in banks 

 by the roadside, or on the ground in open fields near wood 

 borders, or by ledges which constitute small openings for the 

 sun to shine, in, the birds are seldom found within the deeper 

 recesses of the woods. So on Boy Mountain the song is heard 

 almost entirely on the southern slopes and scarcely at all on the 

 northern slopes. 



Nestings have several times occurred on the Highland in a 

 roadside grassy bank, above which a narrow border of trees 

 stands, the road being the road for through travel over the 

 Highland. The bird on her nest learned not to leave it on 



