~ 
187 
IM Louisiana Mr. Beckham has recorded it from Bayou Sara, as observed from the Ist to the 28th of 
TT April; he considers it to be a winter visitor to the State (Auk, iv. p. 806). Mr. Nehrling says that 
bi. this Thrush * passes the winter in great numbers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and especially 
Ме»; in Florida." А large series of skins is in the Salvin-Godman Collection, obtained by Mr. W. E. D. 
Scott at Tarpon Springs from Feb. 13 to April 12, and again in October. Mr. Scott states (Auk, vii. 
Dn) p. 120) that it is a common migrant and winter resident on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and was found 
TA я abundantly at Punta Казва in winter by Mr. Atkins, who also obtained a specimen at Key West in 
lb. January. At Gainsville Mr. Chapman met with it abundantly from January to the 15th of April 
Му (Auk, v. р. 277). Mr. Wayne states that it occurs in Florida from February to June (Auk, xii. 
i p. 366), and Messrs. Brewster and Chapman noticed it on the Suwanee River in March and April 
" м (Auk, viii. p. 188). In the Caloosahatchie region Mr. Scott records it as а migrant and winter 
КҮТ resident (Auk, ix. p. 214). 
Эң The Salvin-Godman Collection contains specimens obtained by Mr. F. B. Armstrong in Texas, at 
ea San Patricio in December, at Papalote in Bee County on the 26th of January, and at Corpus Christi 
а Ше in November and December. At San Antonio Mr. Attwater says itis a rare migrant and winter 
іла resident (Auk, ix. p. 344). Mr. Lloyd obtained a single specimen in Eastern Concho Co. in Western 
; Texas during the spring migration (Auk, iv. p. 298). 
(mit: A specimen from “Mexico” is in the Seebohm Collection, purchased from a dealer, and 
Lj the Henshaw Collection contains one marked as from Orizaba. A single skin, undoubtedly 
‚ш referable to 7. pallasi, was obtained by Mr. Salvin at Coban in Vera Paz, Guatemala, in November 
ши 1859 (Тыз, 1860, р. 272). | 
А. skin from * California," without further credentials, is in the British Museum (cf. Seebohm, 
pr ake Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. v. p. 198). It may be further remarked that not a single specimen of 
мні? Т. pallasi from Colorado is in the Henshaw Collection, and therefore Mr. Nehrling's statement 
мё that it occurs in that State at an altitude of from 1000 to 8000 feet probably refers to some 
Ча other species. 
үт Dr. Elliott Coues, in the ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley, writes :—'* Great injustice 
пр would be done were the Hermit's musical powers overlooked in any sketch, however slight, of 
li oa its life-history. The earlier authors were evidently unaware of its accomplishments, for its 
T melody is lavished on the gloom of the swamp, or lost in the darkening aisles of the forest, where 
v years passed by before the ear of the patient and toiling student of nature was gladdened by the 
; fiel sweet refrain. Wilson denies its song; Audubon speaks of “its single plaintive note,’ though 
E he adds, perhaps upon information received from his friend Dr. Pickering, that *its song is 
E | sometimes agreeable.” Nuttall seems to have first recognized the power and sweetness of the 
a lay of our Hermit: he compares it to the famous Nightingale, that sweet princess of song, and 
б ranks it far above the Wood-Thrush. Later writers agree іп this high estimate of the bird's 
P. powers, though it may be questioned whether a comparison unfavourable to the Wood-Thrush 
ui is a perfectly just discrimination. Тһе weird associations of the spot where the Hermit triumphs, 
t the mystery inseparable from the voice of an unseen musician, conspire to heighten the effect 
Я dd of the sweet, silvery, bell-like notes, which, beginning soft, low, and tinkling, rise higher and 
| higher, to end abruptly with a clear, ringing intonation. It is Ше reverse of the lay of the 
, 9 Wood-Thrush, which swells at once into powerful and sustained effort, then gradually dies 
"d away, as though the bird were receding from us; for the song of the Hermit first steals upon 
pni" us from afar, then seems to draw nearer, as if the timid recluse were weary of solitude, and 
craved recognition of its conscious power to please. Yet it is but a momentary indecision—true 
: yp to a vow of seclusion, the anchorite is gone again to its inviolate grotto in the fastnesses of the 
"d swamp, where a world of melody is wasted in its pathetic song of life." 
yi 8) VOL. I. 2D 
Ж” 
j} 
