BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 223 



dwla), in apple orchards. Kinglets are generally seen in small flocks. 

 They feed exclusively on various forms of insect life ; they are very 

 expert in capturing small insects upon the wing, and destroy great 

 numbers of plant-lice, flies, ants, besides devouring large numbers of 

 insect eggs and larvae. 



FAMILY TURDID.2E. THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 

 SUBFAMILY TURDIN^I. THRUSHES. 

 GENUS TURDUS. LINN^US. 

 755. Turdus mustelinus. GMEL. 



Wood Thrush ; Wood Robin. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length about 8; extent about 13 inches; bill blackish, yellowish at base; legs flesh 

 color; iris brown. Upper parts clear cinnamon brown, brightest on top of head, and 

 shading into olive on rump and tail; lower parts pure white, and everywhere, ex- 

 cept on chin, throat, middle of belly and under tail coverts, marked with roundish, 

 dusky spots. 



Hob. Eastern United States to the plains, north to southern Michigan, Ontario 

 and Massachusetts ; south in winter to Guatemala and Cuba, 



Abundant summer resident from about the last week in April to 

 October 1. The Wood Robin, the name by which the Wood Thrush 

 is best known in tnis region, is a common inhabitant of woods. It 

 especially delights to frequent bushes in woodland, near streams or 

 other watery places. The sweet, ringing, bell-like notes of this bird 

 are such that it justly ranks as one of our most entertaining songsters. 

 It builds a compact and rather large nest of mud, leaves and dried 

 grasses in trees and bushes, usually in low or damp woods. The eggs, 

 commonly four, are light greenish blue, and measure about one inch 

 long by three-fourths wide. The Wood Thrush feeds on numerous 

 forms of insect life, it devours large numbers of beetles, earth-worms, 

 crickets, flies, larvae, etc., and also, like the Common Robin, subsists 

 on various small fruits and berries. 



GENUS MERULA. LEACH. 

 761. Merula migratoria (LINN). 



American Robin. 



(Plate 49, old and yonng.) 



Length about 9|; extent about 16 inches; bill yellow, upper mandible tipped with 

 black; iris brown; legs and feet brownish; above plain grayish, blackish on head, 

 tail and sides of neck; lower parts reddish brown, paler in female; lower part of belly, 

 anal region and under tail coverts white; some specimens have under tail coverts 

 spotted with grayish brown; outer tail feathers tipped with white; young are spotted 

 above and below. 



