LAND BIRDS. 633 



at the edge of a cut, where a stream has washed awaj^ the soil at a bend, 

 In other cases it nests on the ground in an ordinary swamp, placing the 

 nest under the roots of a tree or otherwise hiding it from view. Mr. 

 Trombley records a nest found in Summerfield township, Monroe county, 

 which was nearly complete on May 8, 1891 and which contained six eggs 

 with two Cowbirds' eggs in addition on May 19. This nest was placed 

 beneath the roots of a tree which had been blown over, and was close 

 to the edge of a creek. Another nest in the same vicinity was found with 

 fresh eggs on May 5, 1890. Mr. Taverner records a nest found near Flint, 

 Genesee county. May 30, 1905, and T. L. Hankinson found a nest with 

 young June 2, 1895, in Ingham county. 



The eggs are similar to those of the other Water-thrushes, creamy white, 

 spotted with brown and lilac, the size, number and disposition of the 

 markings being somewhat variable, but the eggs usually distinguishable 

 from those of the Oven-bird, which they nevertheless resemble. They 

 average .73 by .59 inches. 



Much has been written about the song of this bird and it is difficult 

 to exaggerate its power and beauty; nevertheless there is undoubtedly 

 much individual variation. Mr. Chapman writes: "As a songster the 

 Water-thrush is without a rival. His song is not to be compared with the 

 clear-voiced carol of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, the plaintive chant of 

 the Field Sparrow, or the hymnlike melody of the true thrushes; it is of 

 a different kind. It is the untameable spirit of the bird rendered in music. 

 There is an almost fierce wildness in its ringing notes" (Handbook, p. 368). 



In general habits all the water-thrushes are much alike. They spend 

 most of the time on the ground in wet places and are most often seen 

 running nimbly about the edges of pools, balancing for an instant on a 

 stick or pebble, or walking deliberately along a slender branch or root, 

 now disappearing in the dark cavity beneath a stump or log and again 

 wading a few steps into the water to pick up some tempting morsel of 

 aquatic life. All the time the body is swaying up and down with the 

 characteristic wagging motion which suggests the sandpiper. During 

 migration water-thrushes are often found about the edges of muddy pools 

 in open fields and pastures, even associating with sandpipers and plover, 

 but ordinarily they prefer water fringed with willows or other bushes, 

 and during the nesting season are seldom seen in the open. The food 

 consists mainly of aquatic insect larvae, but insects and spiders of various 

 kinds are eaten, as well as worms, crustaceans, snails an(l other mollusks, 

 and to a lesser extent various seeds and small fruits. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult: Very similar to tlie Small-billed Water-thriish, hut u])i)er jiarts lighter olive- 

 brown; the line over the eye pure white, the under i)arts always distinctly buiTj' or brownish 

 white rather than yellowish-white, and the spots and streaks broader and lighter colored 

 (never darker) than tiie color of the upper parts; the huffy color most pronounced on the 

 flanks, l)elly anil under tail-coverts; chin and throat nearly white and often without any 

 sj)ots. Sexes alike. 



i.cngth .5.75 to 0.40 indies; wing .3 to :].'2'y; tail 2.10 to 2. :',(); culnuMi ..")0 to ..")(;. 



290. Kentucky Warbler. Oporornis formosus (ir?7.s:.). (677) 



Synonyms: Sylvia formo.sa, Wils., 1811. — Myiodioctes formosus, And., lS.'iO. — 

 Geothlypis formosa, A. O. V. Check-list, 188G, and most subsequent authors. 



The olive green back and bright j'ellow under parts, coupled witli tlie 

 black l)ar on the side of the heatl and neck and the jcllow stripe ovoi' ujid 



