THE OLIVE-BACKED THRUSH. 
247 
The name of Hermit is given to this bird on account of its eremitical and retiring habits, 
for this Thrush withdraws itself from the open country and systematically hides itself in the 
darkest and most secluded cane-brakes. Even when it ventures into the more open lands in 
search of food it does not make itself conspicuous, but keeps ever near the ground, flitting 
with swift and steady wing to and from the lonely brake where its nest is placed. This species 
is not known to possess any true song, merely uttering a very low and plaintive cry. 
The nest of the Hermit Thrush is always placed in the thickest shelter, and is composed 
of dried leaves and grasses without any mud wall, and lined with grasses of a fine character. 
The eggs are about five in number, and their color a light blue, variegated with black-brown 
spots on the larger end. There are usually two broods in the year. The food of this species 
is almost wholly of a vegetable character. The general color is buffy-brown on the upper 
parts, warming into a decided ruddy tinge upon the tail and upper tail-coverts. The under 
parts are grayish -brown covered on the neck and chest with spots of a darker hue. The total 
length of the adult bird is about seven inches. 
The Hermit Thrush {Hylocichla unalascce — formerly Turdus solitarius) is a species very 
much like the former, but smaller. Its range is much the same. 
The Wood Thrush (. Hylocichla mustelina). This sweet and solitary songster, says 
Wilson, inhabits the whole of North America, from Hudson’s Bay to the peninsula of Florida. 
At whatever time he arrives, he soon announces his presence in the woods. With the dawn of 
the succeeding morning, mounting to the top of some small tree, that rises from a low, thick- 
shaded part of the woods, he pipes his few but clear and musical notes in a kind of ecstasy, 
the prelude or symphony to which strongly resembles the double-tongueing of a Herman flute, 
and sometimes the tinkling of a small bell. The whole song consists of five or six parts, the 
last note of each of which is in such a tone as to leave the conclusion evidently suspended. 
The finale is finely managed, and with such charming effect as to soothe and tranquillize 
the mind, and to seem sweeter and mellower at each successive repetition. Even in dark, 
wet, and gloomy weather, when scarce a single chirp is heard from any other bird, the clear 
notes of the Wood Thrush thrill through the drooping woods, from morning to night ; and 
it may be said, truly, the sadder the day, the more sweet his song. 
“The favorite haunts of the Wood Thrush are low, thick-shaded hollows, through which 
a small brook meanders.” Such has been the description of the habitat of this bird ; and 
it was, no doubt, correct ; but now we find this bird one of the most abundant of any in 
Central Park. It is shy, and still has the faculty to keep out of sight ; and whether any 
change in his habit has taken place, we are not informed. Most certainly, we were once of 
the opinion, held by most people, that this bird was, of all others, the most inclined to keep 
away from civilization. 
The Dware Thrush is merely a variety of the Hermit, but smaller, being only six and a 
half inches in length. It is confined to the Pacific coast, and along the valleys of the Gila and 
El Paso. 
Wilson’s Thrush {Hylocichla fusees cens). This bird, called also Tawny Thrush, is said 
to have no song, but a “ sharp chuck.” It is ten inches in length, and twelve in extent of wing. 
It is well distinguished by having indistinct spots, and these confined to the fore part of the 
breast. 
The Oregon Thrush is from the Pacific coast, and measures about seven and a half 
inches in length. 
The Olive-backed Thrush {Hylocichla ustulata ), called Swainson’s Thrush, is distin- 
guished from others by a perfectly uniform and pure dull olivaceous shade of its upper parts, 
most strongly marked on its rump and tail. It ranges from Greenland to Peru, and westward 
to the Black Hills. 
