286 



In the fall of 1885 the first were reported from River Falls, Wis., 

 September 5. It is a rare fall migrant iu Tom Green Couutv, Tex. 

 (Lloyd). 



759. Turdus aonalaschkee Gmel. [5.] Dwarf Hermit Thrush. 



The true hoine*of the Dwarf Hermit Thrush is in the Pacific coast 

 region. During migration it passes east to Nevada and Aiizona, and 

 recently Mr. Lloyd has discovered it in Concho and Tom Green Counties, 

 Tex., where it is a tolerably common fail migrant. He states that he 

 has seen it every day from September SO to October 10. 



759a. Turdus aonalaschkae auduboni (Baird). [5a.] Body Mountain Hermit 



Thrush. 



This western species was first found within our district by Mr. N. 0. 

 Brown, who procured it at Boerne, Tex. More recently Mr. Lloyd has 

 taken two specimens at San Angelo, Tex., and Mr. Ragsdale has ex- 

 tended its range by securing specimens at Gainesville, Tex. 



Mr. Lloyd's later researches have determined that this form winters 

 near San Angelo, and that it is a tolerably common spring migrant in 

 Tom Green County, Tex. At Gainesville, the first was seen March 20. 



759b. Turdus aonalaschkae pallasii (Caban.). [5*.] Hermit Thrush. 



A common migrant in the Mississippi Valley, breeding in the north- 

 ern and wintering in the southern part. The cold of winter has less 

 effect upon this species than upon any of its brethren. It do^ s not 

 mind moderate cold, but dislikes snow and usually manages to keep 

 just south of the line where snow remains on the ground for weeks at a 

 time. Sometimes, of course, it is caught in a snow-storm, but when 

 this happens it seeks a thick covert and endures it. The heavy under- 

 growth, of the Mississippi bottom lands in southern Illinois offers a 

 favorite wintering place for Hermit Thrushes, but the extreme weather 

 of January, 1884, proved too severe for them and they left for a 

 warmer climate. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., they remained the whole winter, 

 but their habits were peculiar. In the Mayday of their lives at the 

 North they are shy, restless birds, ever watching for a tempting morsel, 

 or from a low branch uttering their clear, liquid, and far-reaching notes. 

 But in winter, in Indian Territory, they acted as if life was a burden; 

 insensible to their surroundings, they sat stupid and silent except for 

 a short unmusical "chick," and allowed one to approach within a few 

 feet; if disturbed they moved but a short distance. The bulk of the 

 species began to come from the south in the early part of March, but it 

 is impossible to trace their movements from the notes contributed by 

 observers. No bird has a more mixed and contradictory record, to say 

 nothing of the many times it is confounded with the Brown Thrush aud 

 the Olive-backed. It is probable that the larger part of the notes are 

 true, and indicate that the species is very erratic in its northward 

 journey. The facts seem to show that during the great migration 

 movements of the latter half of March, single individuals were scat- 



