THRUSHES. 91 



Gray-cheeked Thrush. MylociMa alicise. 



This thrush is an abundant migrant in the Mississippi Valley on its 

 way to and from its breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. It is 

 one of the latest migrants, reaching Arkansas the last week of April 

 and lingering sometimes tiU late in May. It passes south in late 

 September and October, Mrs. Stephenson having observed one at 

 Helena as late as October 10. I noted the species in small numbers at 

 TurreU (May 10), Stuttgart (May 13), Arkansas City (May 15), and 

 McGehee (May 17). During its spring sojourn, this bird feeds 

 chiefly on insects, but in the fall it prefers wild fruits and berries, such 

 as sour gum,, dogwood, poke berries, and frost grapes. 



Ohve-backed Thrush. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni. 



This is another of the northern breeding thrushes, occurring 

 abundantly in migration in the United States. It resembles the 

 graycheek closely in general appearance and is with difficulty dis- 

 tinguished from it in the field. It arrives in Arkansas usually by the 

 middle of April, becoming common by the first of May and remain- 

 ing till the 10th or 15th of that month. Mrs. Stephenson has 

 observed it at Helena between April 30 and May 4, and Mr. Savage 

 has noted it at Delight between April 15 and May 2. I found it com- 

 mon at Lake City and TurreU from April 29 to May 10. The south- 

 ward movement takes place chiefly in late September and October, 

 although occasionally a few birds linger till November, as in 1889, 

 when the last were seen at Clinton November 15. 



Hermit Thrush. Hylocichla guttata pallad. 



The hermit thrush is the hardiest of its family and often spends the 

 winter in the United States as far north as Missouri. It nests in the 

 Northern States and Canada, and is an abundant bird in Arkansas 

 in migration, the majority passing northward in April and southward 

 in October. It rarely sings while migrating, but on its breeding 

 grounds it is famed for its beautiful song. The species has been 

 recorded as occurring ia winter in small numbers at Judsonia,^ 

 Stuttgart (Hollister), and Delight. Hanna took one specimen at 

 Van Buren December 10. It is given as a migrant at Clinton and 

 Helena. 



In spring and summer the hermit thrush feeds mainly on insects, 

 but in faU and winter it partakes largely of various wild fruits and 

 berries, such as frost grapes, pokeberries, and the fruit of the dog- 

 wood, cedar, holly, and sumac. 



1 Eeynolds, H. S., Am. Nat., XI, p. »07, 1877. 



