230 



Field Marks. Heavily spotted breast and evenly coloured back and tail will separate 

 this from all but the Olive-backed. The lack of buff tones on the side of the face will 

 differentiate it from that species though in actual field work it is only in the most favour- 

 able circumstances that this character can be made out with certainty and many specimens 

 seen in the dark woods or during the fleeting moments given for observation go 

 unidentified. 



Distribution. Northern North America; breeding mainly in Canada from the edges 

 of settlement northward. 



SUBSPECIES. Alice's Thrush is divided into two geographical races: the Grey- 

 cheeked, the type, and Bicknell's Thrush H. a. bicknelli. The latter in Canada is confined 

 as far as we know now to the Maritime Provinces below the gulf of St. Lawrence, but the 

 distribution of the two forms in eastern Canada is not well worked out. 



758a. Olive-backed Thrush, pk. — la gbivb db swainson. Hylocichla ustulata. 

 L, 7-17. PlateXLIXA. 



Distinctions. Evenly coloured back without colour variation on either head or tail 

 and heavily spotted breast will separate this from all the Thrushes but Alice's. The 

 distinctly buffy cast of the cheeks instead of cold grey will differentiate it from that species. 



Field Marks. Back and breast characters as above. The facial coloration which 

 separates it from Alice's can be seen only under the most favourable conditions and many 

 individuals usually go unidentified. 



Nesting. In bushes or small trees, about 4 feet above the ground, in nest of coarse 

 grasses, moss, rootlets, leaves, and bark lined with rootlets and grass. 



Distribution. As a species, all North America; breeding mostly in Canada from 

 the edges of cultivation northward. Swainson's Thrush extends west to the Rocky 

 mountains. 



SUBSPECIES. The Olive-backed Thrush is divided into two subspecies. The type 

 race, under the name of Russet-backed Thrush, is a Pacific Coast form. The Eastern 

 Olive-back or Swainson's Thrush //. u. swainsoni is the only one in eastern Canada. 



In spring and autumn the open woods are invaded by great numbers 

 of these evenly coloured, spotted-breasted Thrushes on their way to and 

 from their breeding grounds. They are rather wary and the numerical 

 proportion of each species present can usually only be estimated. 



759. Hermit Thrush, fb. — la geive solitaire. Hylocichla guttata. L, 7-17 

 Plate XLIX B. 



Distinctions. Very similar to the last two but the tail reddish brown in contrast 

 with the olive-brown of the back. 



Field Marks. Brown back and white, spotted breast identiy it as a Thrush. The 

 reddish coloration of the tail contrasting with the olive back serves for the identification 

 of the species. 



Nesting. On the ground in nest of moss, coarse grasses, and leaves lined with rootlets 

 and pine-needles. 



Distribution. As a species, all northern North America. The Eastern Hermit 

 Thrush extends westward to near the mountains and north to the tree limits, breeding 

 usually just beyond the cultivated districts but irregularly to or near our southern boundary. 



SUBSPECIES. The Hermit Thrush is a flexible and adaptable species represented 

 in America by some six recognized subspecies. The typical form is an Alaskan race. 

 Eastern Canada has only one subspecies, the Eastern Hermit Thrush H . g. pallasi. 



The Hermit Thrush is one of our most famous singers. Unfortunately 

 it is usually silent as it passes through southern Canada, and is heard at 

 its best only in the northern coniferous woods. 



