Notes concerning certain birds of Long Isl 

 New Yorl^.. By William C.Braislin, M.D. 



Hylocichla aonalaschkae pallasii. Hermit Thrush. — Mr. Wm. 

 Butcher has related in 'The Auk' (III, 1886, p. 443) the evi- 

 dence obtained favoring the probable occurrence of this thrush as 

 a summer resident on Long Island, but as no further data 

 appeared in relation to the matter the possibility of its being a 

 breeding species remained problematical. In reply to an inquiry, 

 Mr. Arthur H. Howell kindly wrote me that he has twice heard 

 the notes of what he regarded without doubt as the Hermit Thrush 

 in summer on Long Island, during the time of liis collecting here. 

 He had once heard it at Lake Ronkonkoma north of the lake, and 

 again near Coram on the old bicycle path which crosses the center 

 of the island, connecting Port Jefferson and Patchogue. On 

 both occasions the song was heard in the low range of hills running 

 the length of Long Island. To obtain if possible further informa- 

 tion regarding the species as a summer resident, Mr. George K. 

 Cherrie and I journeyed to Lake Ronkonkoma on June 9, 1906, 

 whence on foot we covered as much of the ground in the east and 

 north as we were able on that day. The list of species which we 

 made proved most interesting to us. The object of our search was 

 not met with until almost at the end of our stay, when a single 

 immature Hermit Thrush was shot. This was the only thrush of 

 any species and the only individual of this species seen on that date. 

 It was found in a wood of mostly deciduous timber. In the 

 tracts where the pines predominated Prairie Warblers, Mourning 



Doves, Blue Jays, and Chewinks were abundant. Twenty-five 

 species of birds were observed. Neither the Wood Thrush nor 

 Wilson's Thrush was seen. 



The young bird taken was probably not twenty-four hours out 

 of the nest, in fact it corresponded in every particular with young 

 Hermit Thrushes taken from the nest by Mr. Cherrie in Vermont 

 the preceding season. 



Obtaining this young bird, practically a nestling, unable to fly 

 any considerable distance, was satisfactory evidence to us that the 

 Hermit Thrush is a nesting species on Long Island. Our not 

 meeting with adult birds would seem to indicate that on Long 

 Island the Hermit Thrush is equally as shy as elsewhere, and 

 perhaps to an even greater degree. We likewise decided, largely 

 from the same reason — that of our not meeting an adult speci- 

 men — that it is but a rare summer resident. In this we may 

 be in error. The nature of the ground they occupy here may 

 give the birds need for special caution in exposing themselves, 

 while it is possible that they may occur more commonly in other 

 parts of the island than in the region visited. 



Ank, 24, Apr., 1007, p. /^^-Z S ^, 



