Bicknell on Hylocichla aliciee bicknelli . 
X S5 
The clamor of a party of Blue Jays 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 which individuals con- 
stantly within human hearing, seem to acquire. Busily roaming 
Chickadees ( Par us atricapillus ) at times came about our path, 
and the Snowbird (fr/nco hy emails') was present with its simple 
song. Olive-backed Thrushes ( Hylocichla ustulata swain- 
soni) too, 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 
off. The song was different from that of the bird 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 suggestive of the song of //. fuscescens. A 
conspicuous point of difference was that it was more subdued in 
tone, in fact of a somewhat ventriloquous nature. On examining 
the bird, in hand, although I had thought myself familiar with 
all our eastern Hylocichlce . I must confess to having been puz- 
zled. It was obviously neither the Olive-backed nor the Hermit 
Thrush, the only 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 Gray-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 true 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 differences 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 result being the recognition of a new bird, belonging to our 
eastern fauna. 
