78 NEW-YORRK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



GENUS SE1URUS. Swainson. 



Bill rather short, scarcely depressed at the base. Bristles at the corners of the mouth small, 

 scarcely visible. Upper mandible slightly notched, and bent at the tip Tarsus with 

 three scutellae, and a long undivided plate above. Wings moderate : third quill usually 

 longest ; the first nearly as long as the third. 



THE NEW-YORK WATER THRUSH. 



Seiurus noveboracensis. 



PLATE XLV1I. FIG. 106 (Sprino PLUMAGE). 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Motacilla noveboracensis, Gm. Water Thrush, Wilson, Orn. Vol. 3, p. C6, pi. 23, fig. 5. 

 Sylvia id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. York, Vol. 2, p. 77. 



T. aquations. Audubon, folio, pi. 19; Vol. 5. p. 284; ludovicianus, Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 99. 

 New-York or Aquatic Thrush. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1,'p. 353. 

 Aquatic Accentor. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 229. 



S. novmboracensis. Aquatic Wood Wagtail. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 3, p. 37, pi. 149. Giraud, Birds of Long 



island, p. 93. 



Characteristics. Dark olive ; beneath, and line over the eye, yellowish ; neck and breast 

 with dark arrow-headed spots. Female, slightly paler beneath. Length, 

 6 inches. 



Description. Upper mandible somewhat suddenly narrowed in the middle ; tip very 

 slender, and very minutely notched. Second and third quills about equal, scarcely longer 

 than the first. The hind claw not longer than that of the middle toe. Tail nearly even, 

 slightly notched. 



Color. Above uniform dark olive brown. A line of white or yellowish white over the eye, 

 occasionally extending along the sides of the neck. Bill dusky brown or black above ; flesh- 

 colored beneath. Throat white (in the spring plumage) ; beneath light sulphur-yellow, with 

 deep brown arrow-headed or oblong spots, which are also seen underneath the wings. 



Length, 6"0. Alar extent, 9 '5. 



This musical little bird, as one of its popular names implies, is partial to the neighborhood 

 of brooks, in search of insects. It builds its nest on the ground, laying 4-6 flesh-colored 

 eggs sprinkled with dark red at the larger end. It inhabits Louisiana, and as far south as 

 Brazil. It appears in this State from the south about the beginning of May, and has been 

 noticed as far north as the 64th parallel. It returns south through this State the latter end 

 of August, and appears to be equally fond of swamps and mountainous regions. I have not 

 been able to ascertain whether it breeds in this State. 



