287 
tered over much of the Mississippi Valley to latitude 44°. But these 
individuals must be considered as forerunners, for the regular occupa- 
tion of this territory did not take place till nearly a month later. The 
regular migration began April 1, at latitude 39°, and by the beginning 
of May had advanced irregularly to latitude 45°, During the last week 
of April and the first part of May, the last of these birds left the lower 
part of this territory and soon reached their breeding grounds. Com- 
paratively few instances have been recorded of the breeding of the 
Hermit Thrush within the Mississippi Valley. Outside of the mount- 
ains of Colorado the most southern breeding point on record is Alda, 
Nebr. (Lat. 40° 53’), from which place Mr. F, W. Powell writes that 
- he found no nest, but saw the old birds feeding young which were too 
small to fly. At Grinnell, Iowa, the nest was found and identified by 
seeing the bird upon it. The nest and eggs are now in the Iowa Col- 
lege at Grinnell. At Des Moines, Iowa, they have been seen in the 
breeding season, but no nest has been found. 
In the spring of 1885 Hermit Thrushes came to Saint Louis, Mo., the 
1st day of April, and during the rest of the week were noted from 
Paris, Aledo, and Chicago, Ill. Another advance took place April 15 
to April 18, bringing them to Newton, Iowa, and Grinnell, Iowa, Hen- 
nepin, Ill, and Clinton, Wis. North of these places the records were 
unsatisfactory. The only “lasts” reported were from Saint Louis, 
April 24, and Chicago, May 5. 
Tn the fall of 1885 the first was observed at Saint Louis, Mo., Octo- 
ber 5; the bulk was present October 9; and the last was seen October 
11. At Lanesboro, Minn., the last was noted October 10. 
In the eastern part of Concho County, Tex., Mr. Lloyd took one 
in spring migration. 
761. Merula migratoria (Linn.). [7] -4dmerican Robin. 
The Robin is a common summer resident in Manitoba and throughout 
the Mississippi Valley except in the extreme southern portion. In 
winter it is abundant in Louisiana and in eastern and southern Texas, 
it also winters irregularly over most of its United States range. It 
seems to be the best known bird in the Mississippi Valley, and many 
more notes were contributed on it than on apy other species. It should 
be possible, therefore, to determine its movements with considerable 
accuracy. All through December, 1883, it was found in abundance 
throughout southern Dlinois, Missouri, and Kansas, but the extreme 
cold of the first week in January, 1884, drove it farther south into its 
real winter home. During the larger part of this month the bulk of the 
Robins (probably even $0 per cent. of them) were south of the parallel 
of 379, This is south of the usual winter limit of the species, the north- 
ern boundary for ordinary winters being about latitude 39°. It must 
not be supposed, however, that Robins never spend the winter farther 
north. The fact has been repeatedly demonstrated that nature has be- 
stowed on them strong constitutions, so that if food is plenty they can 
