File:Bird lore (1907) (14568977709).jpg

Identifier: birdlore91907nati (find matches)
Title: Bird lore
Year: 1899 (1890s)
Authors: National Committee of the Audubon Societies of America National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Wild Birds and Animals National Audubon Society
Subjects: Birds Birds Ornithology
Publisher: New York City : Macmillan Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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s much as might be expected in a twelvemonth.The field-student will do well to distinguish even the species, for thegeographical races or subspecies are not readily recognizable even withspecimens in hand for comparison and measurement. It is to be regrettedthat so much effort has been expended in forcing names upon very slightdifferences, because, in the confusion which arises, the very purpose forwhich a name is given, convenience, is defeated. Here, I merely ask myreaders to remember that variation is of three kinds,—individual, when onebird differs from his own relatives; seasonal, when plumage is affected bymolt and by wear; and geographical, when environment imposes characters I04 Bird-Lore The geographical are the only variations that are that are inherited,nameable. My out-of-door acquaintance with the Thrushes is of years standing,and I have enjoyed their company in many parts of the United States andCanada. Furthermore, I have had access to large series of skins, and I now
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BREEDING RANGES OF THE OLIVE-BACKED THRUSHES (Hylocichla ustulata)I. H. u. ustulata, Z. H. u. swainsoni. 3. H. u. almce hope, by outlining their distribution and prominent characteristics of plumageand habit, to impart, even to the casual reader, some idea of the meaningof geographical distribution and the significance of subspecies. Let us first turn to the Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), one of thespecies most familiar to every bird-student of eastern North America. It isknown afield by its large size, tawny back and white breast heavily spottedwith black, and its breeding range is the smallest of any of the five species. I A Sketch of the Thrushes of North America 105 extending only throughout the dry, deciduous woodlands of the easternUnited States and the Mississippi valley, and not crossing the Canadianboundary except in Ontario. In winter it retreats to Cuba and CentralAmerica, departing south, like most of the Thrushes, in September. Itreadily adapts itself to modern condi

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