TOWNSEND AND ALLEN: LABRADOR BIRDS. 419 



We found the Hermit Thrush only at Mary Harbor, St. Lewis 

 Inlet. Here we heard two or three singing in the afternoon and 

 evening of July 12th and the morning of July 13th. 



Merula migratoria (Linn.). 

 American Robin. 



Abundant summer resident throughout Labrador; April 26 to 

 October 10. 



The strong-flying Robin disregards the boundaries of faunal zones 

 and is found breeding everywhere in Labrador. It was the first land 

 bird seen by Audubon on reaching Labrador. Cartwright notes the 

 finding of a Robin's nest with three eggs on June 29, 1779. He states 

 that they seldom lay more than three eggs in Labrador. He records 

 the first arrivals in 1786 on May 8th. 



All writers describe the Robin as common or abundant and it is 

 unnecessary to give all the records. Stearns says they are never seen 

 in winter and gives the earliest and latest dates as above. Spread- 

 borough found them common across Ungava from Moose Factory 

 to Fort Chimo. Eggs were taken at Fort Chimo on June 13th, and on 

 the upper Hamilton River on July 5th. 



We found 1 Robin at Lance au Loup, 6 or more at Mary Harbor, 

 4 at Cartwright, 4 at Rigolet, 2 at Hopedale, 12 or more at Cape 

 Charles, and 1 at Henley Harbor. We found a nest containing three 

 eggs at Rigolet on July 18th. It was placed about seven feet up in a 

 spruce, near the houses of the Hudson's Bay company's post, and was 

 constructed of twigs, lichens, and mud, lined with finer material. 



At Hopedale the birds were seen in the Eskimo village and they 

 were said to have a nest there. We were told that a pair of Robins 

 had nested at Battle Island the previous year. Mr. Schmitt records 

 the arrival of the Robin at Nain on May 10. It was interesting to 

 see this familiar bird in such wild and arctic surroundings, and to 

 hear its beautiful morning hymn in the wilderness at Mary Harbor. 

 As far as we could see, specimens of Labrador Robins in the Bangs 

 collection did not differ from those from Massachusetts; we did not 

 shoot any specimens. 



