HERMIT THRUSH. 
9 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, composed outwardly of dried grasses, twigs, leaves and mosses; rather smoothly lined with finer grasses, 
mosses, and fibrous roots. It is well proportioned to the size of the bird. Dimensions.—External diameter, 5-00 
inches; internal, 2-50 inches. External depth, 3-00 inches; internal, 2-00 inches. 
Eggs, rather elongated in form; pale green in color, generally unspotted. Dimensions, from-88x-G0 to -92x-65. 
HABITS. 
The Hermit Thrash makes its appearance in Florida about the first of December, and soon 
scatters over the main land of the state. It frequents the dense undergrowth of the hummocks, 
where it may be seen scratching among the decaying leaves and other debris in search of insects. 
It is very unsuspicious while in these Southern tvilds ; sometimes an individual would come into 
our camp, when we chanced to pitch our tents near a thicket, and, perching upon a box or barrel, 
gaze at us inquisitively, occasionally raising and then lowering its tail, while it gave vent to its 
astonishment by a low chirp. They are very numerous; every hummock and thicket has its 
share; they even inhabit the bushy edges of the thick palmetto swamps, the dark and dismal 
recesses of which are seldom visited by any birds, excepting the nocturnal species. All winter 
they flit silently among the luxuriant vegetation of Florida, revelling throughout the season amid 
flowers, in a climate which cannot be surpassed. But when the cool, refreshing north winds 
cease to blow, and the burning heat of the tropics comes over the land, the Hermit prompted 
by instinct, or guided by reason, for who can tell which, commences its steady march northward. 
The old males go first, followed by the young males and the females, so that by the middle of 
April not one is to be found within the limits of the state. 
The earliest migrants arrive in Massachusetts the first week in April; others continue to 
come until the first of May, when, with the exception of a few individuals, they have all passed 
to the great breeding grounds in the woods of the North. While migrating in the spring this 
Thrush is somewhat shy and retiring, generally keeping in the swamps. At this season it has 
no song, excepting the low note of alarm, but in its home among the hemlocks and spruces it is 
far different in this respect; there it sings finely . 
I well remember that I first heard its song at Hyannis, in Southeastern Massachusetts, 
during the last week in June, when in company with my friends, Messrs. Wm. Brewster and 
F. P. Atkinson. We were walking in a field, near one of those woods, composed of low scrubby 
trees, which cover a large portion of this section of the state, when Mr. Brewster exclaimed, 
“ Hear that Hermit Thrush !” We listened for a moment for a repetition of the song, which his 
quick ear had detected, and soon heard the clear, bell-like notes, coming from the far depths 
of the wood, through the still morning air. The scene was peculiar, and the song thus became 
associated with it, and will not soon be forgotten. The bird sang well, but the song lacked 
the accompanying loud, ringing echo heard to perfection in the deep, heavily wooded valleys of 
Northern New England. 
Although it breeds sparsely at Hyannis and in some other sections of Massachusetts, its true 
home is farther north. Here, in the dense shade of the evergreens, amid the giant trunks which 
stand around like sentinels, it builds its nest upon the ground by the side of some moss-grown 
log. The situations chosen are generally upon some gently sloping hillside, and the nest is 
placed in such a position as to be hidden, especially if the bi’own-backed mother bird be upon it. 
She sits very closely, as if aware of this fact; generally not starting until the intruder is about 
to tread upon her, when she will flit silently to the cover of some thicket, and remain concealed 
— for this species, like the Olive-backed, is not very assiduous in defending its nest, even when 
it contains young. They exercise great judgment in selecting material with which to cover the 
outside of the nest, so that it may not readily be discovered. One which I found built on the 
upper side of a prostrate mossy log, was sunk into the decaying wood so that the top was on 
BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 
