MNIOTILTID.E THE AMERICAN WARBLERS. 161 



times placed within a few yards of one another. It is usually seen 

 upon the wet ground or wading in the shallow water, its body in 

 a horizontal position or even more elevated posteriorly, but contin- 

 ually tilting up and down, and when moving about it progresses by 

 a graceful gliding walk. If it fancies itself observed, it runs slyly 

 beneath the brush- or drift-wood overhanging the shore ; and if 

 alarmed, flies up suddenly with a sharp and startling chatter. 



Audubon describes the song of this species as fully equal to that 

 of the nightingale, its notes as powerful and mellow, and at times 

 as varied. This may be true of the ecstatic love-song, heard on 

 rare occasions, and uttered as the singer floats in perfect abandon 

 of joy, with spread tail and fluttering wings; but it can hardly be 

 true of the ordinary song, which, although rich, sweet, and pene- 

 trating, and almost startling in the first impressions it creates, is 

 soon finished, and the pleasing effect somewhat transient. 



It cannot be denied, however, that its song is one of the richest 

 to be heard in our forests. 



Seiurus noveboracensis (Gniel.) 



WATER-THRUSH. 



Popular synonyms. Small-billed Water-thrush; Water Wagtail: Water Kick-up; Bessy 

 Kick-up and River Pink (Jamaica); Aquatic Accentor; New York Aquatic Thrush. 



Motacllla ncevia BODD. Tabl. P. E. 1783,47 (based on PL Enl. 752, tig. 1). (Not of p. 35') 

 Siurus na>,vius COUES, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, ii,1877, 32; B. Col. Val. 1878,293; 2d Check 



List, 1&2, No. 136. RIDGW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 116. 

 Motacilla noveboracensis GMEL. S. N. i, 1788, 958. 

 Turdus (Seiurus) noveboracensis NUTT. Man. i, 1832,353. 



Seiurus noveboracensis BONAP. AUD. Synop. 1839,93; B. Am. iii, 1841, 37, pi. 49 (part). 



BAIRD.B. Am. 1^58,261; Cat. N. Am. B. 1^59, No. 187; Review, 1SG5, 215. COUES, Key, 



1872, 106; Check List, 1873, No. 93; B. N. W. 1874, 71. B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B. i, 



1874, 283, pi. 14, fig. 12. 



Turdus aqnaticus WILS. Am. Orn. iii, 1811, 66, pi. 23, fig. 5. AUD. Orn. Biog. v, 1839, 284, 



pi. 423, fig. 7. 

 Seiurus aquaticus Sw. & RICH. F. B. A. ii, 1831,229, pi. 43. 



HAB. Eastern North America, chiefly east of the Mississippi, north to the Arctic 

 coast, breeding from northern border of United States northward. Winters in more 

 southern United States, all of middle America (both coasts), northern South America, 

 and all of West Indies. Accidental in Greenland. 



"Sp. CHAE. Bill, from rictus, about the length of the skull. Above olive-brown, with 

 a shade of green ; beneath pale sulphur-yellow, brightest on the abdomen. Region 

 about the base of the lower mandible, and a superciliary line from the base of the bill to 

 the nape, brownish yellow. A dusky line from the bill through the eye; chin and throat 

 finely spotted. All the remaining under parts and sides of the body, except the abdomen 

 and including the under tail-coverts, conspicuously and thickly streaked with oliva- 

 ceous brown, almost black on the breast. Length, 6.15; wing,3.12; tail.2.40. Bill, from ric- 

 tus, .64. Sexes similar. 

 11 



