^883-] Ingersoll on Common Names of American Birds. 7 ■? 



the color of the plumage are the book-names Taivny Thrush 

 (Pemiant, Latham) and Merle tanne (D'Orbign}^) . As for 

 Grasset (Texas), I cannot explain it. 



For Turdus fuscescens^ size and color are indicated in Tawny 

 Thrush, Little Thrush (Latham), and Merle grivette (Canada 

 — literally "Little-Thrush-Blackbird"); Wilson's Thrush dis- 

 closes its first adequate biographer ; Veery (New England) and 

 Tor rick (Thoreau's Writings) refer to its pleasing note, which 

 they copy. 



The first name of Turdus alicice, Alice's Thrush, is compli- 

 mentary to Miss Alice Kennicott ; the second, Gray-cheeked, is, 

 of course, a color-mark. 



Turdus ustulatus gives us Oregon Thrtish (locality), Wil- 

 low Thrush (California — habitual havnit) , and Russet-backed 

 Thrush (color). The variety swainsoni is usually called simply 

 Swainson's Thrush, but it is also the Olive-backed, Little or 

 Brown Thrush, or Swamp Robin. 



Skipping the western types, our eastern Turdus '■'•pallasi" 

 comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird 

 refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth 

 of secluded and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly 

 reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list : Hermit or 

 Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground 

 Swamp Robin (Maine) ; Little Swamp Robift and Rufous- 

 tailed Thrush. 



This brings me to Merula migratoria, the Robin. The 

 word robin is an ancient pet-name for Robert, which is of Ger- 

 man descent. That it should have been given to the household 

 favorite of Great Britain is not surprising ; in fact some similar 

 personal pet name has been given to that Warbler (^Erythacus 

 rtibecula) all over Europe, and such analogues as "Jenny Wren" 

 and "Jim" (for the Sparrow) are common. The earliest emi- 

 grants to America, finding a red-breasted bird inclined to be 

 familiar with them, and eager to be reminded of the home for 

 which they longed regretfully, gladly called it "Robin," not 

 aware, or regardless, of the fact that the old one was a Warbler 

 and the new friend a Thrush. This fact was speedily recognized, 

 but the old name clung, and hence we hear Robin Redbreast, 

 American Robin., and Robin Thrush as surviving appellations 

 throughout the northern half of the continent. In the Southern 



