32 
II E R M I T T II R U S II. 
chicken which has lost its mother. This very bird I found numerous 
in the myrtle swamps of Carolina in the depth of winter, and I have 
not a doubt of its being the same which is described by Edwards and 
Catesby. 
As the Count de Buffon has drawn his description from those above 
mentioned, the same observations apply equally to what he has said on 
the subject; and the fanciful theory which this writer had formed to 
account for its want of song, vanishes into empty air ; viz., that the 
Song Thrush of Europe (Tardus musicus) had, at some time after the 
creation, rambled round by the Northern Ocean, and made its way to 
America; that advancing to the south it had there (of consequence) 
become degenerated by change of food and climate, so that its cry is 
now harsh and unpleasant, '-as are the cries of all birds that live in 
wild countries inhabited by savages."* 
For a figure and description of this passenger Thrush see the follow- 
ing species. 
Species IV. TURDUS SOLITARIUS.f 
HERMIT THRUSH. 
[Plate XLIII. Fig. 2.] 
Little Thrush, Catesby, i., 31.— Edwards, 296.— Brown Thrush, Arct. Zool. 337, 
No. 199. 
The dark solitary cane and myrtle swamps of the Southern States are 
the favorite native haunts of this silent and recluse species, and the 
more deep and gloomy these are, the more certain we are to meet with 
this bird flitting among them. This is the species mentioned while 
treating of the Wood Thrush, as having been figured and described more 
than fifty years ago by Edwards, from a dried specimen sent him by my 
friend Mr. William Bartram, under the supposition that it was the 
"Wood Thrush (Turdits melodus). It is however considerably less, very 
differently marked, and altogether destitute of the clear voice and musi- 
cal powers of that charming minstrel. It also differs in remaining in the 
Southern States during the whole year ; whereas the Wood Thrush does 
* Buffon, vol. iii., 289. The figure in PI. Enl. 39S, has little or no resemblance 
to the Wood Thrush, being of a deep green olive above, and spotted to the very 
vent, with long streaks of brown. 
f Tardus minor, Gmelin, which name having the priority must be adopted. 
We add the following synonymes : — T. minor, Gm. Si/st. i., p. 809. — Lath. Syn. 
in., p. 20, No. 5. — Mauris de la Caroline, Buff. PI. Enl. 556, fig. 2. Tardus fuscus, 
Gmel. Si/st. i., p. 817. — Lath. Syn. in., p. 28, No. 16. 
