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BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
to that of an inverted cone, the opening being always at the top. This 
elegant structure is securely fastened—either saddled to or woven about— 
a horizontal limb, usually near the top of a tree, but, especially if the 
tree be a very tall one, sometimes on one of the lower branches. Often 
it is attached to a limb of nearly the same diameter as itself, thus ap¬ 
pearing as a knot or other excrescence” {Orn. of Illinois). “Eggs, 
four to five, about .60 by .45, whitish, fully speckled with reddish and 
umber-brown and lilac ” ( Cones’ Key). 
Family TURDID^l.* Thrushes, Bluebirds, Etc. 
Subfamily TURDIN.3J'. Thrushes. 
THE THRUSHES. 
Eight representatives of this subfamily are recorded as occurring in Pennsylva¬ 
nia. Three—the American Robin, Wood Thrush and Bluebird—are common and 
very generally distributed throughout the state as summer residents, and in winter 
the Robin and Bluebird are frequently met with,especially in the southern sections 
of the commonwealth. With the exception of Bicknell’s Thrush, the members 
of this group, although quite numerous, being found in nearly all parts of the state 
during migrations, are known chiefly to ornithologists only. Many farmers and 
fruit-growers regard the Robin (Merula migratoria ) as a great nuisance and wage 
war against him because of his love for various small truits. The other members of 
this group, like the Robin, feed also to a more or less extent on berries of different 
kinds. These birds subsist largely on various species of noxious insects; the 
service which they all render, in this particular, should secure for them the protec¬ 
tion of both the agriculturist and horticulturist. 
Genus TTJRDUS Linnaeus. 
Turdus mustelinus Gmel. 
Wood Thrush ; Wood Robin. 
Description (Plate 100). 
Length about 8; extent about 13 inches ; bill blackish, yellowish at base ; legs 
flesh color; iris brown. Upper parts clear cinnamon brown, brightest on top of 
head, and shading into olive on rump and tail; lower parts pure white, and every¬ 
where, except on chin, throat, middle of belly and under tail-coverts, marked with 
roundish, dusky spots. 
Habitat .—Eastern United States to the plains, north to southern Michigan, Onta¬ 
rio and Massachusetts ; south, in winter to Guatemala and Cuba. 
Abundant summer resident from about the last week in April, to some 
seasons, as late as October 20. The Wood Bobin, the name by which 
the Wood Thrush is best known in many localities in Pennsylvania 
(some term it Hermit Thrush), is a common inhabitant of woods. It 
especially delights to frequent bushes in woodland, near streams or other 
_ 
* “ Bill slender, usually distinctly notched, and with distinct rictal bristles. Tarsi booted, i. e ., the 
anterior covering undivided for the greater part of its length. Young distinctly spotted ” (Orn. of 111.). 
