444 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



stone cavities, and sometimes the same cavity is used two or three 

 years in succession. The Louisiana water thrush also has a habit of 

 starting as many as three nests, then abandoning them for some other 

 site. They are also found occasionally at the extreme entrance of the 

 gully and sometimes at the upper end or in the entrance of a small branch 

 leading into the main gully. The nests are made of skeletonized leaves, 

 moss, rootlets, twiglets, grass stems, and often lined with fine grasses, 

 hemlock twigs, dark rootlets, and horse hair, but dead pine needles is 

 the usual lining. A characteristic feature of this warbler's nest is the 

 doormat or path of leaves, from 6 to 12 inches long, leading from the nest, 

 sometimes forming a striking contrast against the dark green mossy back. 

 Many times the nest is cunningly concealed behind drooping ferns, but 

 the pathway of leaves betrays the location of the nest to the careful observer. 

 The female is a close sitter, allowing one to almost touch her, but when 

 flushed she glides away, trailing around the rocks and debris with wings 

 akimbo and extended tail, nervously dabbling her bill in the water in the 

 most dainty manner. This warbler is much imposed upon by the Cowbird 

 whose visits usually cause disaster by its clumsiness in filling the nest with 

 loose shale or dirt while kicking 2 to 3 of the thrush's eggs out of the nest. 

 In two instances I have noticed 5 eggs of the Louisiana water thrush with 

 2 of the Cowbird; in two instances, 6 of the water thrush and 2 of the 

 Cowbird. Several times nests were deserted where the Cowbird had 

 deposited her egg. One egg a day is laid, often with an interval of 5 and 



6 days before the last egg is deposited. If the first nest is destroyed it 

 requires 15 days to build a new one and lay 5 eggs. Of 61 nests observed, 



7 contained 4 eggs, 36 contained 5, and 18 had 6 eggs. They vary greatly 

 in size and shape and from almost plain to lightly dotted, heavily blotched 

 and sometimes beautifully wreathed around the larger ends. The average 

 size is .78 by .61 inches. Normally, the nesting period extends from May 

 4 to May 30, and young just able to fly are noted out of the nest as early 

 as May 20. I consider all fresh June sets second attempts at nesting owing 

 to accidents with the first nests." 



