326 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
The Gray-cheeked Thrush is a rather plentiful spring- and fall migrant 
in Pennsylvania ; frequents woods and thickets. The food is similar to 
that of the Wilson’s Thrush. 
Note. A race of this species, — Bicknell’s Thrush {Turdus alicioB bicknelli) has 
been described by Mr. Ridgway. A description of this bird as given by Mr. Ridgway 
(Vol. I, Ornithology of Illinois) is as follows: “Similar to Turdus alicim Baird, but 
much smaller and (usually) with the bill more slender. Wing, 3.40-3.80 (3.65) ; tail, 
2.60-2.90 (2.75); culmen, .50-.52 (.51); tarsus, 1.10-1.25 (1.13); middle toe, .65-.70(.68).” 
A single specimen believed to belong to this newly discovered race, named in honor 
of its discoverer Mr. Eugene P. Bicknell, who first obtained it on the Catskill Moun- 
tains, was captured by Prof. H. J. Roddy, near Chickies’ Rock, Lancaster county. 
I have never seen the specimen taken by Mr. Roddy, w’ho since the above was written 
writes me as follows concerning it. “ Turdus alicioe bicknelli, I am not quite sure 
of. The more I study my specimen the more I think it is Turdus alicim somewhat 
changed in some way and yet not bicknelli.''^ The habitat of this bird as given in 
Ridgway’s Ornithology of Illinois is the higher mountains of northeastern United 
States, from the Catskills and Adirondacks, in New York, to the White mountains 
of New Hampshire ; breeding from an elevation of 4,000 feet upward. Straggler to 
Illinois (Warsaw, May 24, 1884: Chas. K. Worthen).” 
Turdus ustulatus swainsonii (Cab.). 
Olive-backed Thrush. 
Description {Plate lOO). 
Length about 7| inches ; extent about 11^ ; upper parts uniform greenish-olive; 
conspicuous yellowish ring round eye ; lores, sides of head, chin, throat and breast 
strongly tinged with yellowish ; anterior lower parts, except chin and upper part of 
throat, marked with numerous and large dusky and blackish spots ; sides grayish- 
olive ; middle of abdomen and under tail-coverts white ; wings and tail dusky ; 
somewhat paler on under surface. 
Habitat. — Eastern North America, and westward to the Upper Columbia river and 
East Humboldt mountains, straggling to the Pacific coast. Breeds mostly north of 
the United States. 
Common spring and fall migrant, generally distributed throughout 
the state ; arrives here usually about the last of April and departs in 
October. The Olive-backed Thrush breeds occasionally, it is said, in 
our higher mountainous regions. 
Turdus aonalaschkse pallasii (Cab.). 
Hermit Thrush. 
Description {Plate 100). 
Size about the same as last. Upper parts olive; rump and tail reddish-brown; 
yellowish ring round eye ; below white ; shaded on sides with grayish-olive ; mid- 
dle of upper part of throat usually immaculate ; sides of head, in some specimens, 
very similar to back ; but usually sides of head, sides of neck, lower part of throat 
and breast are tinged with buff ; lower throat and breastconspicuously marked with 
large blackish and dusky-olive spots ; upper surface of tail reddish-brown, below 
paler ; outer webs of wing-quills similar but lighter ; inner webs blackish. 
Habitat. — Eastern North America, breeding from the northern United States 
northward, and wintering from the Northern states southward. 
