Ingersoll on Common Names of American Birds. 
73 
1883.] 
the color of the plumage are the book-names Tawny Thrush 
(Pennant, Latham) and Merle tanne, (D’Orbigny) . As for 
Grasset (Texas), I cannot explain it. 
For Turdus fuscescens , size and color are indicated in Tawny 
Thrush , Little Thrush (Latham), and Merle grivette (Canada 
— literally “Little-Thrush-Blackbird”); Wilson’s Thrush dis- 
closes its first adequate biographer ; Veery (New England) and 
Torrick (Thoreau’s Writings) refer to its pleasing note, which 
they copy. 
The first name of Turdus alicice , Alice’s Thrush , is compli- 
mentary to Miss Alice Kennicott ; the second, Gray-cheeked, is, 
of course, a color-mark. 
Turdus ustulatus gives us Oregon Thrush (locality), Wil- 
low Thrush (California — habitual haunt), and Russet-backed 
Thrush (color). The variety swainsoni is usually called simply 
Swainson’s Thrush , but it is also the Olive-backed , Little or 
Brown Thrush , or Swamp Robin . 
Skipping the western types, our eastern Turdus “ pallasi ” 
comes next. Nearly all the names of this shy and solitary bird 
refer to its habit of haunting for the most part the undergrowth 
of secluded and damp woods. Its small size and distinguishingly 
reddish tail supply the rest. Following is the list: Hermit or 
Solitary Thrush; Grive or Merle solitaire (Canada) ; Ground 
Swamp Robin (Maine) ; Little Swamp Robin and Rufous- 
tailed Thrush . 
This brings me to Merula migratoria , the Robin. The 
word robin is an ancient pet-name for Robert, which is of Ger- 
man descent. That it should have been given to the household 
favorite of Great Britain is not surprising ; in fact some similar 
personal pet name has been given to that Warbler ( Erythacus 
rubeculai) all over Europe, and such analogues as “Jenny Wren” 
and “Jim” (for the Sparrow) are common. The earliest emi- 
grants to America, finding a red-breasted bird inclined to be 
familiar with them, and eager to be reminded of the home for 
which they longed regretfully, gladly called it “Robin,” not 
aware, or regardless, of the fact that the old one was a Warbler 
and the new friend a Thrush. This fact was speedily recognized, 
but the old name clung, and hence we hear Robin Redbreast , 
American Robin, and Robiit Thr?ish as surviving appellations 
throughout the northern half of the continent. In the Southern 
