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winter months, where it frequented the second-growth woods so prevalent in that district. On the 
Pacific side of Guatemala we did not meet with it until the winter of 1873-74. 16 was then found 
to be not uncommon on the slopes of the mountains between Capetillo and San Diego, a heavily- 
wooded tract of country with patches of second-growth woods." In the Salvin-Godman Collection 
are specimens collected at Toliman in Guatemala, at 5000 feet, on the 24th of December, by Mr. W. 
B. Richardson, and there is also a skin obtained by the same collector at Leon in Nicaragua on 
the 15th of December, 1892. 
Further south the species extends to Colombia, a Bogotá skin being in the Seebohm Collection, 
and I also refer to 7. ustulatus the specimen procured by Mr. F. A. Simons at Minca, near Santa 
Marta, at 2000 feet, in January; it is now in the Salvin-Godman Collection (Salvin and Godman, 
Ibis, 1880, p. 115, s. n. 7. swainsoni). Whitely met with it on Roraima in British Guiana on the 
5th of December, 1881 (Salvin, Ibis, 1885, р. 197). 
In his account of the birds collected during the survey of the 40th Parallel, Mr. Ridgway 
(p. 395) gives the following interesting note on the habits of the species :—“* The Russet-backed or 
Oregon Thrush was first met with in the pine-region of the Sierra Nevada, on the western slope of 
that range at an altitude of about 4000 or 5000 feet above the Sacramento Valley. It inhabited 
there the deep ravines, where the undergrowth was extremely dense and overtopped by a thick 
growth of gigantic Conifere, extending in a vast unbroken forest for hundreds of miles over the 
mountains to the north and south. Eastward of that range it was met with but once, a single 
individual having been obtained on the second of June, in the Truckee Valley, not far from the 
eastern base of the Sierra Nevada, the individual in question being no doubt a last lingering one, 
since no others were observed after that date, all having departed for the mountains to the westward. 
The species is known to migrate in winter southward along the Pacific slope as far as Costa Rica, 
but its summer home is chiefly among the forest-clad mountains and wooded valleys from California 
to British Columbia and Sitka. 
“The song of this Thrush much resembles that of 7. swainsoni, but is different in many 
important respects, conspicuous amongst which is its finer quality. Its modulation is quite correctly 
expressed by Mr. Nuttall, who describes it as resembling the syllables * wit-wit, Роба, t'villia'; but 
to convey to the reader even the slightest idea of its tone and effect would be the vainest endeavour. 
We heard the enchanting songs of these birds under circumstances calculated to make a lasting 
impression. It was in the midst of the dense and lofty forests of the Sierra Nevada, about halfway 
up the western slope, that we rested for the sabbath from our journey across the mountains. 
Hemmed in and overshadowed by giant forest-trees, we halted, with rippling and sparkling brooks 
from the snow-fields far above dashing through the ferns and varied herbage, the roadside bedecked 
with the gay and lovely flowers so characteristic of Californian glades, while below yawned the 
depths of a dark ravine, through which dashed and roared a mountain torrent. In the tall pines 
overhead skulked the noisy Jays and Хуйсгаскетв (Cyanura frontalis and Picicorvus columbianus), 
mingling their discordant notes with the twittering of the Woodpeckers, who sported about the 
branches of the dead trees. But certain outbursts of rarest melody, heard at intervals from the 
darkest recesses of the deep ravine, drew the attention of every one in camp; notes of exceeding 
simplicity, yet full of tenderest expression and thrilling effect, far finer than the softest and sweetest 
notes of the flute. These harmonious carols would be taken up first by one, then by another 
musician, then answered from a distant portion of the dell. It was long before the author of these 
wild melodies could be seen, but patient search revealed a little brown bird, afterward determined to 
be this species, shyly flitting into the gloomy maze of foliage at our approach.” 
On its arrival in its summer-quarters the Russet-backed Thrush is described by all observers as 
being very undemonstrative and retiring in its habits. Mr. Anthony, writing of the species in Oregon, 
