AND OOLOGIST. 
171 
Nov., 1882.] 
June 8th I found a nest of the Wilson 
Thrash containing one egg with a very 
thin shell. I took it, and left in its place 
the egg that still remained in the nest 
found June 5th, that nest having been de¬ 
serted after I took the two eggs. I visited 
this new nest nearly every day for four 
weeks and saw the female bird on the nest 
every time, but found no more eggs. I 
saw but one bird in all this time, and at 
last I found the nest empty and deserted. 
I wondered at the patience of the bird, 
and took sevei’al friends to see the curiosity. 
June 29th I found a nest of the Wilson 
Thrush containing three fresh eggs, and 
later foimd two more nests without eggs. 
These were all found in one piece of w’oods 
and within five minutes’ walk of each other. 
Now, as I am a novice in collecting, having 
devoted very little time to it since I was a 
small boy, I will tell why I am certain that 
I have made no mistake in this matter. I 
have read very carefully the description of 
these birds in Minot’s ‘‘ Land and Game 
Birds of New England,” and could easily 
identify the birds from the knowledge thus 
gained, as they would remain upon the nest 
until I was within a few feet of them, giv¬ 
ing me a fine opportunity to make observa¬ 
tions. 
The nest of the Wood Thrush was in a 
tree within twenty feet of a river, and aliout 
eight feet from the ground. It would have 
been pronounced a Robin’s nest by a care¬ 
less observer, although the outside was 
comjiosed almost wdiolly of dead leaves. 
The eggs were smaller than those of the 
Robin, (Minot says 1.10—1.00x70) and 
nearer spherical. The nests of the Wilson 
Thrush were in each instance within two 
or three inches of the ground, sometimes 
attached to a stub or brier, and occasion¬ 
ally in high grass near a cart-path. They 
were constnicted of dead leaves (princi¬ 
pally beech leaves) and grape-vine bark. 
The eggs were “ light-blue, green-tinted,” 
and about the size of the Bluebird’s 
eggs. 
Birds of New York. 
In response to your request, I herewith 
give you a brief outline of the work I am 
doing ujjon our State birds. In advance 
of the piiblication of my “ History of the 
Birds of New York,"* wdiich has been un¬ 
avoidably delayed, I propose to issue a 
Preli-niinary Catalogtie of the birds of 
the State, accompanied by an essay upon 
the Distribution of Species within our 
borders. This paper will be illustrated 
with colored majis showing both the boun¬ 
daries of the Faunal Areas, and the causes 
that operate in detertnining their limita¬ 
tions—such, for example, as altitude, the 
temperature during the breeding season, 
etc. The completeness of this poi'tion of 
the w'ork depends largely upon the assist¬ 
ance rendered by resident collectors. A 
large number of “ Local Lists,” from nearly 
all parts of the State, have already been 
received ; but the undersigned is desu’ous 
of obtaining still more information of this 
character, and takes the present opportu¬ 
nity to solicit lists of species knoton to 
breed from all collectors who have not al¬ 
ready favored him with sucli contributions. 
For all material made use of due credit 
will, of course, be given.— C. Hart Merri- 
am, M. D., Docust (rrove, N. 1", Oct., ’82. 
•An outline of the plan of this work was published in 
“Forest and Stream’^ for May 15, 1879 {Vol. 12, No. 15, p. 
285.) 
Late Breeding of the Hermit Thrush in 
Northern New York.-— On the 21th of 
August, 1879, Dr. Frederick H. Hoadley 
and myself found a nest of the Hermit 
Thrush, containing three fresh eggs, at 
Locust Grove, in Lewis County, New Y'^ork. 
It was on the ground, near an old log, in 
an open place in the woods ; and I almost 
stepped on it before the parent bird flew' 
oft. Tw'o weeks later there were three 
young in the nest. They were very small 
and helpless, and evidently not more than 
a day or two old.— C. Hart Merriam, M. 
/)., Locust Orore, If. 1^. 
