57J: HISTORY OF THE 



disembodied voice to me, and I was puzzled by it as Thoreau 

 was by his mysterious Nig-ht Warbler, which, by the way, I sus- 

 pect was no new bird at all, but one he was otherwise familiar 

 with. The little bird himself seems disposed to keep the matter 

 secret, and improves every opportunity to repeat before you his 

 shrill, accelerating lay, as if it' were quite enough, and all he laid 

 claim to. Still, I trust I am betraying no confidence in making 

 the matter public here. I think this is preeminently his love 

 song, as I hear it oftenest about the mating season. I have 

 caught half-suppressed bursts of it from two males, chasing each 

 other with fearful speed through the forest.' " 



Reader, if you wish to hear this love song in its fullest power, 

 visit the deep woods in the early summer, as the shades of night 

 deepen, and most of the diurnal birds have retired, for it is then 

 that its lively, resonant voice falls upon the ear unbroken, save by 

 the silvery, flute-like song of the Wood Thrush; and if your heart 

 does not thrill with pleasure, it is dead to harmonious sounds. 



Their nests are placed on the ground, generally a depression 

 among the leaves, and hidden under a low bush, log, or over- 

 hanging roots; when in an open space, roofed over; a dome-like 

 structure, made of leaves, strippings from plants, and grasses, 

 with entrance on the side. Eggs three to six — rarely six, usu- 

 ally four, .80x. 60; white, or creamy white, quite glossy, spotted 

 as a rule rather sparingly over the entire surface, thickest and 

 confluent around the larger end, with pale reddish brown, lilac 

 and umber; in form, rounded oval. 



Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis (Gkinn.).* 



GRINNELL'S WATER-THRUSH. 

 PLATE XXXIII. 



Migratory; rare. Arrive the last of April to first of May (I 

 have several times met with the birds late in May); return early 

 in September; occasionally remain until the last of October. 

 B. . R. 116a. C. 137. G. 54, 293. U. 675a. 



Habitat. Western North America, chiefly in interior; east 

 into Mississippi valley, straggling to Illinois and Indiana, etc. ; 

 north into the Arctic regions. Found breeding in northern 



• Entered in my "Catalogues of the Birds of Kansas" as S. noveboracensis. 



