287 



terecl over much of the Mississippi Valley to latitude 44°. But these 

 individuals must be considered as forerunners, for the regular occupa- 

 tion of this territory did not take place till nearly a month later. The 

 regular migration began April 1, at latitude 39°, and by the beginning 

 of May had advanced irregularly to latitude 45°. During the last week 

 of April and the first part of May, the last of these birds left the lower 

 part of this territory and soon reached their breeding grounds. Com- 

 paratively few instances have been recorded of the breeding of the 

 Hermit Thrush within the Mississippi Valley. Outside of the mount- 

 ains of Colorado the most southern breeding point on record is Alda, 

 •Nebr. (Lat. 40° 53'), from which place Mr. F. W. Powell writes that 

 he found no nest, but saw the old birds feeding young which were too 

 small to fly. At Grinnell, Iowa, the nest was found and identified by. 

 seeing the bird upon it. The nest and eggs are now in the Iowa Col- 

 lege at Grinnell. At Des Moines, Iowa, they have been seen in the 

 breeding season, but no nest has been found. 



In the spring of 1885 Hermit Thrushes came to Saint Louis, Mo., the 

 1st day of April, and during the rest of the week were noted from 

 Paris, Aledo, and Chicago, 111. Another advance took place April 15 

 to April 18, bringing them to Kewton, Iowa, and Grinnell, Iowa, Hen- 

 nepin, 111., and Clinton, Wis. Xorth of these places the records were 

 unsatisfactory. The only "lasts" reported were from Saint Louis, 

 April 24, and Chicago, May 5. 



In the fall of 1885 the first was observed at Saint Louis, Mo., Octo- 

 ber 5 ; the bulk was present October 9; and the last was seen October 

 11. At Lanesboro, Minn., the last was noted October 10. 



In the eastern part of Concho County, Tex., Mr. Lloyd took one 

 in spring migration. 



761. Merula migratoria (Linn.). [7.] American Bobin. 



The Kobin is a common summer resident in Manitoba and throughout 

 the Mississippi Valley except in the extreme southern portion. In 

 winter it is abundant in Louisiana and in eastern and southern Texas, 

 it also winters irregularly over most of its United States range. It 

 seems to be the best known bird in the Mississippi Valley, and many 

 more notes were contributed on it than on any other species. It should 

 be possible, therefore, to determine its movements with considerable 

 accuracy. All through December, 1883, it was found in abundance 

 throughout southern Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, but the extreme 

 cold of the first week in January, 1884, drove it farther south into its 

 real winter home. During the larger part of this month the bulk of the 

 Pobins (probably even 90 per cent, of them) were south of the parallel 

 of 37°. This is south of the usual winter limit of the species, the north- 

 ern boundary for ordinary winters being about latitude 39°. It must 

 not be supposed, however, that Eobins never spend the winter farther 

 north. The fact has been repeatedly demonstrated that nature has be- 

 stowed on them strong constitutions, so that if food is plenty they can 



