12 
SEITJRUS A UR 0 CAP ILL US. 
orchard, attracted the birds to the spot, and, as there was no locality near, where they could 
place their nest upon the ground and remain undisturbed, they chose this singular situation. 
Like the other small Thrushes, already described, it is very timid, and seldom attempts to 
drive the spoiler from its nest; indeed, it usually conceals itself at such times. On June 20th 
of the present season, I found a nest in a small, thickly wooded island on the salt marsh, 
which contained newly hatched young. The female was sitting at the time, but she instantly 
darted away into the thicket. I went in search of the bird, but only succeeded in catching a 
glimpse of her as she was flitting through the bushes more than a hundred yards from the nest. 
She made very little noise, only occasionally giving a low whistle. The male did not make his 
appearance. 
In the latter part of July, this species moults, and for this purpose retires to the thick alder 
swamps, which border streams and other bodies of fresh water. The male never sings then, and 
they seem to have deserted the woods, so completely do they remain concealed. They do not 
begin to migrate south until the latter part of September, after which but few are to be found. 
As the voice of the Tawny Thrush is only heard in early summer, this singular, half mysterious 
song becomes inseparably connected with the dark green foliage, seen in the softened light of 
the deep, deciduous woods, and with the peculiar odors which greet the senses in these pleasant 
retreats, when the breezes murmur through the tree tops, and one feels a delicious quietude only 
experienced on those bright June days which appear perfect only in New England. 
I give this species as a bird of Florida on the authority of Mr. Boardman, who took two 
specimens at Green Cove Springs on February 20th and 22d. 
GENUS II. SEIURUS. THE SMALLER THRUSHES. 
Gen. Ch. Size, small. Sternum , precisely similar in form to that of the preceding genus. Bill, more conical and 
longer in proportion to the size of the bird. 
This genus is so closely allied to Turdus that I can find but two constant characters by which they can be 
separated, viz.: the universally smaller size, and the more conical and longer bill in proportion to the size of the 
bird. 
SEITJRUS AUROCAPILLUS. 
Oven Bird. Golden-crowned Thrush. 
Seiurus aurocapillus Swainson. Zoological Journal, m, 1827, 171. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, somewhat robust. Tongue, rather acuminate, slightly bifid and fringed with delicate cilia for 
about one-sixth of its terminal length. Marginal indentations of sternum not exceeding its breadth. 
Color. Above, pale olive-green; with a broad central stripe of orange-yellow on the head, margined with black. 
Beneath, pure white; with numerous triangular spots of black, upon the breast, flanks, and sides of throat; in the 
latter place they are clustered, forming maxillary stripes. A ring around the eye, and the sides of the head, similar 
to the back, but paler. Planks, olivaceous. Under wing coverts and axillaries, pale green. Iris, brown. Upper 
mandible, brown; lower, paler. Peet, pale brown. 
Young. Similar to the adult; but with a dull, reddish tinge over the back. The central stripe of the head is also 
obscured with dusky. There is a faint, greenish suffusion over the white of the under parts. The wing coverts are 
sometimes tipped with pale yellow, forming bars. The feet and bill are darker. Sexes alike in all stages of plumage. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This little species will be easily distinguished from all others by the above description. As in other Thrushes, 
individuals vary much in the number and intensity of color of the spots beneath. A specimen taken at Miami, beside 
being smaller in size, has the spots of the breast much broader than usual. The back is. also more dusky. This 
species is found during the breeding season throughout eastern United States, north to Hudson’s Bay. They winter 
in the Southern States, West Indies and Central America. 
