LAND BIRDS. 631 



audible at a distance of several hundred yards, and one of the most striking 

 and characteristic of bird songs. Opinions differ somewhat as to its 

 similarity to the songs of the other Water-thrushes, some observers stating 

 that the songs of this and the Large-billed Water-thrush are nearly identical, 

 while others claim that they are perfectly distinct. ]n view of the con- 

 fusion of the two species by even fairly good observers it seems likely 

 that the song of one has not unfrec{uently been mistaken for that of the 

 other. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult: Entire U23per parts, including wings and tail, uniform olive-brown; a whitish 

 or yellowish-white stripe from nostril over eye toward nape; ear-coverts brown like back; 

 under i)arts whitisli, usually with a distinct yellow tint which is likely to be strongest on 

 the l)clly, the throat f liinly speckled, and the breast and sides thickly spotted and streaked 

 with thirk bi-own; wings "and tail unmarked; iris brown. Sexes alike. 



Length 5 to 6 inches; wing 2.80 to 3.10; tail 2 to 2.25; cuhnen .43 to .50. 



288. Grinnell's Water-thrush. Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis. Ridyiv. 



(675a) 



Synonyms: Western Water-thrush. — Seiurus nu'vius notabilis, Ridgw., 1880, and 

 most recent writers. 



Very similar to the Small-billed Water-thrush, Init slightly larger, 

 darker brown above and whiter below, the yellowish tinge often barely 

 perceptible. 



Distribution. — Western United States, from Indiana and Illinois west- 

 ward to California, and north into British America. Casual in migrations 

 eastward to the Atlantic coast. Winters from the southern border of the 

 United States southward to Lower California, Mexico and northern South 

 America. 



Probably the majority of the Water-thrushes that pass through ]\Iichigan 

 during the migrations belong to the Small-billed subspecies, the larger 

 form becoming abundant farther west. Nevertheless, Grinnell's Water- 

 thrush has been taken several times within our limits and it seems likely 

 that it occurs somewhat frequently. Naturally, as this is merely a 

 geographical race of the Small-billed Water-thrush and Michigan is not far 

 from the dividing line between the two, the forms must overlap more or 

 less and specimens completely intermediate are likely to occur. In Butler's 

 Birds of Indiana (1897, page 1382) we read: "Mr. Ridgway writes me 

 that Water-thrushes from the Mississippi Valley are very puzzling, but 

 a large majority appear to be referable to notabilis. Mr. F. M. Woodruff 

 informs me that Dr. J. A. Allen, to whom he submitted some specimens 

 fi-om the vicinity of Chicago for examination, considers them typical 

 notahilis." Mr. Woodruff adds: "All the specimens I have from northern 

 Indiana arc of this form." A specimen of Crinnell's Water-thrush was 

 killed on Spectacle Reef Light, Lake Huron, May 7, 1889 and another 

 May 22, 1890. Both these were identified by Dr. A. K. Fisher, of the 

 V. S. Department of Agriculture at Washington. The University of 

 Michigan Expedition obtained an adult female on Isle Royale August 

 24, 1904 and an adult male on August 26. According to Mr. Norman A. 

 Wood others were seen there on August 18, 22, 28, 31 and September 1. 

 On the latter date Mr. Wood states that he heard one in a cedar swamp 

 singing a low sweet song. 



So far as we know tliis form does not dilTer in general habits from its 



