11^4 BiCKNELL on Hylorichla alicicc bicknelli. 



and relieving the ruggedness of the slo^Des, noi thern phmts were 

 growing in greater or less' profusion. The Dwarf Cornel ( Cor- 

 nus canadensis) grew in such close luxuriance in congenial spots, 

 that its snowy bracts imparted an almost uniform whiteness to 

 whole beds. With, or near it, blossomed the Wood Sorrel {Ox- 

 alis acetosella) with delicately violet-veined petiils, and the ap- 

 propriately-named Gold-thread ( Coftis trifolia) of evanescent 

 bloom but shining evergreen leaves, and the little ,Star Flower 

 ( Trientalis americana) were often also associates. Excepting 

 the pale vellow bells of Clintonia barealis., and the purplish 

 tinge, or veining, of the blossoms of several other species, all the 

 plants noticed in bloom at this time upon the mountain bore 

 flowers of some shade of white. The more open ground about 

 our course along the ridge supported a luxuriant and graceful 

 growth of that lovely fern Aspidhim spinulosu7H, and with it, in 

 openings about the summit, grew abundantly the Mountain Gol- 

 den-rod {Solidago thyrsoidea) which, although yet many weeks 

 from bloom, heralded a ro^-al emblem to light the mountain's 

 brow ere the white locks of winter should again possess it. 



At the elevation where these plants first appeared the trees 

 nowhere attained more than a medium stature, those which 

 seemed best to have surmounted the difficulties of their situation, 

 the Balsam and the Paper Birch, never rising to a height of more 

 than, perhaps, twenty-five feet. This growth completely encom- 

 passed the range of vision, but an occasional scantiness in the 

 foHage permitted glimpses of surrounding mountains rolling off" 

 like huge green billows into the blue distance. 



From these evergreens came the leisurely call of the Canada 

 Nuthatch {Sitta canadensis), and on closer approach the low, 

 plaintive notes of the little Yellow-bellied Flycatcher {Empido- 

 nax flaviventris). The brief warble of the Black-and- Yellow 

 Warbler (Dendrceca maculosa) told of the presence of its unseen 

 author in the surrounding trees, v^•hile among the undergrowth 

 the less frequent, but louder and more sustained song of the 

 Mourning Ground-warbler {Geothlyfis Philadelphia) showed 

 that this species, which had been left at the foot of the mountain, 

 had here reappeared. At intervals, fahitly mingling with these 

 songs, from some hidden fastness below, came the fantasia of 

 the Winter Wren, a melody that seemed to pass from the spirit 

 of unclaimed nature, voicing some mystery of the mountains. 



BiCKNELL on Hylocichla alicice bicknelli. 155 



The clamor of a party of Blue Ja3-s occasionally arose and died 

 away in the forest, but here, in this mountain solitude, their 

 screams seemed more subdued than in less primitive regions, and 

 lacked that suggestion of consciousness v^hich individuals con- 

 stantly within human hearing, seem to acquire. Busily roaming- 

 Chickadees {Parns atricapillus) at times came about our path, 

 and the Snowbird { Jnnco hyemalis) was present with its simple 

 song. Olive-backed Thrushes {Hylocichla nstnlata swain- 

 soni) to(j. were constantly to be heard, and finally, guided by its 

 near song, one was followed up and secured. A moment later 

 another Thrush darted across the path, and disappearing through 

 a young balsam growth, immediately began to sing a few rods 

 oft". The song was different from that of the biixl which had just 

 been shot, so much so. in fact, as to be remarked even by my 

 guide. It seemed to be more uniform in character, with less 

 variation and definition of the notes : as I wrote in my note-book 

 at the time — more saggc>ti\ e of the song of H. fuscescens. A 

 conspicuous point of difi'erence was that it was more subdued in 

 tone, in fact of a somewhat ventriloquous nature. On examining 

 the bird, in hand, although 1 had thought myself familiar with 

 all our eastern Hylocichlm. 1 must confess to having been puz- 

 zled. It was obviously neither the Olive-backed nor the Hermit 

 Thrush, the onl}- species of our own smaller Thrushes which from 

 the distribution of their group (as then understood) could possibly 

 be expected to occur. I at once noted its general resemblance to 

 the Grav-cheeked Thrush, but it seemed impossible that this Hud- 

 sonian bird could be found so far south at this season : and though 

 a second specimen pointed more strongly toward it, it was not 

 until I had reached home and made actual comparisons, that I 

 could feel satisfied that its ti'ue relationship was with that species. 

 I had long noticed certain somewhat constant differences between 

 examples of alicice occurring at New York on their migrations, 

 and incited by these specimens went carefully over my series of 

 seventeen examples and found them separable into two forms, 

 characterized by slight difi'erences in coloration and a notable dif- 

 ference in size. The examples from the Catskills were more 

 closely allied to the smaller of the two forms, and these, with, 

 subsequently, my entire series, were submitted to Mr. Ridgway, 

 the i-esult being the recognition of a new bird, belonging to our 

 eastern fauna. 



