GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH, OR OVEN-BIRD. 355 



the female tumbles in the path and simulates lameness. 

 In this bird, according to Audubon, the legs and feet are 

 of a deep bluish brown, and the tail forked. It does not 

 appear to be strictly aquatic. The northern bird, also, 

 is never heard to sing, and the country in which it 

 breeds is unknown. 



The Aquatic Thrush is about 6 inches long, and 9^ in alar extent. 

 Above very dark olive, with a line of whitish extending over the 

 eye, and along the sides of the neck. Below, white, tino-ed with 

 pale yellow ; the whole breast and sides marked witli dark brown 

 pencil-shaped spots. Bill dusky brown. Legs flesh-colored. Tail 

 nearly even. The sexes almost alike in plumage. 



GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH, or OVEN-BIRD. 



{Turdus aurocapillus, Wilson, ii. p. 88. pi. 14. fig. 2. Sylvia auro- 



capilla, BoNAP.) 



Sp. Charact. — Yellow-olive; crown brownish-orange, maro-ined 

 on each side by a dusky line ; beneath white, the breast spotted 

 with blackish. 



This rather common bird, so nearly allied to the true 

 Thrushes, is found throughout the forests of the United 

 States during the summer, arriving in the Middle and 

 Northern States about the beginning of May or close of 

 April, and departing for tropical America, Mexico, and 

 the larger West India islands early in September. 



The Golden-crowned Thrush, shy and retiring, is 

 never seen out of the shade of the woods, and sits and 

 runs along the ground often like the Lark ; it also fre- 

 quents the branches of trees, and sometimes moves its 

 tail in the manner of the Wagtails. It has few preten- 

 sions to song, and while perched in the deep and shady 



