.SYLVICOLID^E — THE WARBLERS. 281 



convinced that it bred at even still higher latitudes. Among some memo- 

 randa 1 received from the late Mr. Kennicott is one stating that he met 

 with this Thrush breeding near English Eiver, July 15. These birds arrive 

 in the fur country about the first of May. How far to the south they breed 

 we have no positive information. I have never received its eggs from any 

 point south of Philadelphia, nor did I ever meet with it or hear its notes 

 in summer in the vicinity of Washington. Audubon was of the opinion 

 that a few remain to breed even in Louisiana, and states that he found them 

 abundant in Texas in the middle of May, but lie may have confounded this 

 .species with the Louisiana Thrusli. 



In Jamaica, where its ]ial)its lia.ve been carefully studied by Mr. Gosse, it 

 arri\'es in September and leaves about the 20th of April. Mr. Wurdemann 

 obtained specimens at Cape Florida, September 24 and 25. Mr. Audubon 

 mentions their appearing in Louisiana as early as the first of March. Wilson 

 never noticed it in Louisiana before the last of April, nor after September. 

 The Smithsonian possesses no specimen obtained earlier than May 1, e.xcept 

 some procured April 25 from the mouth of Platte Eiver. Mr. Allen notes 

 its arrival in Western Massachusetts May 10. Mr. Verrill gives the early 

 part of May as tlie time of its reaching Western Maine, and Mr. Boardman 

 May 1 for the vicinity of Calais. 



Though not found on the California coast, specimens of this bird have 

 been taken in winter near Mazatlan, Mexico, showing probably tliat in their 

 migrations they cross the mountains of Northern Mexico, as do the Mniotilta 

 varia and a few other of our Eastern species. 



In Eastern Massachusetts it usually appears from the 1st to the 10th of 

 May, just as the first leaves of the trees are expanding, and is to be found 

 only in thick woods, often near their edges. Occasionally found perched on 

 the low limbs of trees, it is quite terrestrial in its habits, keeps a good deal 

 on the ground, running about among the fallen leaves, more in the manner 

 of a small quadruped than a bird. Mr. Audubon speaks of its frequenting 

 shady woods, watered by creeks and rivulets. I have found them rather 

 more abundant in woods upon high and dry ground, usually upon slopes of 

 wooded hillsides. In this re.spect it appears to differ in a marked manner 

 from its near of kin, the "\^'ater Thrush (S. novcboracensis). 



This bird, and indeed all of this genus, have the peculiar vibratory mo- 

 tions of the tail noticed in the Wagtail of Europe, and also observed in our 

 own Red-poll Warliler, and in llie Titlarks. In consecpience of these pecu- 

 liarities this species is known, in Jamaica, as Land Kickap, and the novcbo- 

 racensis as the Water Kickup. Mr. (iosse found in its stomach gravel, 

 various seeds, mud-insects, caterpillars, and small turbinate shells. 



The usual and more common song of this species is a very peculiar and 



striking one, unlike that of any other of our birds. It is said to somewhat 



resemble the song of the Accentor modularis of Europe. It is loud and clear, 



enunciated with great rapidity, and uttered witli great emphasis at its close. 



3G 



