202 Contributions from the Charleston Museum. 



evidently remain into November. With the exception of the 

 Hermit Thrush this is perhaps the tamest of the wood thrushes. 

 It frequents the same character of swamp land as the other 

 members of the genus, and like them feeds chiefly upon berries in 

 autumn. Most of the birds sing imperfectly in spring and it is 

 rare to hear the full volume of their beautiful song, which, once 

 heard, is not easily forgotten. 



The Olive-backed Thrush breeds in the Atlantic States from the 

 northern Alleghanies northward, and winters as far south as 

 Peru and Argentina. 



307. Hylocichla guttata pallasii (Cab.). Hermit Thrush. 

 The Hermit Thrush is an abundant winter visitant arriving by 



October 23 and remaining until the second week in April. The 

 birds are not abundant until the middle of November, when they 

 are apparently settled for the winter. Although hardy, this 

 species cannot endure sudden changes of weather, especially if 

 very low temperatures prevail for even a few days, as great num- 

 bers perished on February 13 and 14, 1899. During January and 

 February, 1895, hundreds succumbed to the cold weather, al- 

 though the food supply was plentiful. 



The Hermit Thrush is the least shy of the wood thrushes and 

 can be readily approached within a few feet especially during cold 

 weather. In winter the birds subsist upon berries of the tupelo, 

 black gum, wild orange (Prunus Caroliniana), holly, and gallberry. 

 In the spring the food consists of animal matter, and birds shot 

 at this season decompose in the course of a few hours. 



Although Audubon 1 states that this species is a "constant 

 resident in the Southern States," he was misled, for the Hermit 

 Thrush does not breed in any portion of these states, being simply 

 a winter visitant. 



The breeding range in the Atlantic states extends from the 

 northern Alleghanies northward to Labrador. 



308. Planesticus migratorius (Linn.). Robin. 



The first Robins arrive from the north towards the last of Oc- 

 tober — the 20th, 1897, and 30th, 1903, being my earliest records. 



Like the Cedar Waxwing, this species, upon its arrival, feeds 

 upon the berries of the black gum (Nyssa multiflora) and tupelo 



1 Birds of America, III, 29. 



