LAND BIRDS. 711 
mistaken. Major Boies states that on Neebish Island, St. Mary’s River, 
it is occasionally seen during the summer and probably breeds. Kneeland 
includes it in his list of the birds of Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior 
(1856-57), and Miss Flora L. Mowbray of Marquette states that it is quite 
common there and nests; she also states that Dr. Elliott R. Downing of 
the State Normal School has found the bird in that vicinity. Mr. Thomas 
B. Wyman of Negaunee, also states that it is a common summer resident 
in hardwood lands in that vicinity. On the other hand, Mr. O. B. Warren 
of Palmer, Marquette county, who formerly recorded the species from 
that region, states that it should not be included in his list. The writer 
has spent considerable time on two different trips to various parts of the 
Upper Peninsula east of Marquette, and in spite of most careful search 
has failed to find this species. The Olive-back-and Hermit Thrush were 
heard and seen repeatedly, but the Wood Thrush never. 
The bird usually reaches the southern border of Michigan during the 
last week of April, Mr. Trombley’s dates at Petersburg ranging from April 
25, 1886 and April 22, 1891 to May 2, 1893 and May 5, 1897. At Ann 
Arbor Norman A. Wood gives the average for twenty-five years as the first 
week in May, the earliest date being March 21, 1889, which must be con- 
sidered an exceptional date, if not actually a mistaken identification. 
Farther north the Wood Thrush appears during the first two weeks in 
May, according to latitude, and probably by the 15th of May has reached 
all parts of the state where it commonly nests. It does not always begin 
to sing immediately upon arrival, but much depends upon the weather. 
The song once heard is not likely to be mistaken for that of any other 
bird except the Hermit Thrush, but according to the writer’s experience 
it 7s usually confounded with the song of that bird. Descriptions of the 
song vary widely and are far from satisfactory. Most writers consider 
it inferior to that of the Hermit Thrush, but there is room for a difference 
of opinion on this point. Chapman says ‘‘When excited his usual call- 
note, pit-pit, is regularly repeated until it resembles the sound produced 
by striking large pebbles together, quite unlike the whistled wheew of the 
Veery. * * * The songs of the Wood and Hermit Thrushes are of 
the same character, but while the Hermit is the more gifted performer 
the Wood Thrush does not suffer by the comparison. His calm, restful 
song rings through the woods like a hymn of praise, rising pure and clear 
from a thankful heart.” Nehrling says: ‘‘It loves the deep half-darkness 
of the forest solitude with its peace and quietness. Here we can hear the 
wonderful, harmonious, flute-like song from early dawn till evening twilight. 
Were it not for hearing repeatedly the far-sounding, delightful eolie hallalee 
one would hardly know that this famous vocalist had returned home again. 
Besides this common song-like call it utters a low tuck or tack and a quickly 
reiterated tuck-tuck-tuck-tuck.”’ According to Bicknell it has no second 
song period, but sings well until near the end of July, then less often and 
with less vigor until August 6 to 15th, when the song ceases abruptly” 
(Auk, I, 128). 
The Wood Thrush moves southward during September, and although 
a few may be found in October, the majority have left the state consider- 
ably before the middle of that month. ae 
Professor Forbes, summing up the results of his examination of the 
stomachs of this bird in Illinois, says: “Hating nearly as many ants as 
the Catbird, as many caterpillars as the Robin and Hermit Thrush, it 
falls below all the other species in the ratio of predaceous beetles, runs 
