3(3 GOLDEN-CROWXED THRUSH. 



falling ^vith an almost imperceptible gradation till they are scarcely- 

 art iculated. At tliese times the musician is perched on the middle 

 branches of a tree over the brook or river bank, pouring out his 

 charming melody, that may be distinctly heard for nearly half a 



mile. 



Tlie voice of tliis little bird appeared to me so exquisitely sweet and 

 expressive, that I was never tired of listening to it, while traversing the 

 deep shaded hollows of those cane-brakes where it usually resorts. I 

 have never yet met with its nest. 



The Water Thrush is six inches long, and nine and a half in extent ; 

 the whole upper parts are of a uniform and very dark olive, with a line 

 of white extending over the eye, and along the sides of the neck ; the 

 lower parts are white, tinged with yellow ochre ; the whole breast and 

 sides are marked with pointed spots or streaks of black or deep brown ; 

 bill dusky brown ; legs flesh-colored ; tail nearly even ; bill formed 

 almost exactly like the Golden-crowned Thrush {Turdus aurocajnllus), 

 and except in frequenting the water, much resembling it in manners. 

 Male and female nearly alike. 



Species VII. TURDUS AUROCAPILLUS. 



GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH. 



[Plate XIV. Fig. 2.] 



Edw. 252. — L.\TH. III., 2\.—LaJiguicr d iHe d'or, Briss. hi., 504. — La Grivelette 

 de St. Domingue, Buff, hi., 317, PI. Enl Z98.—Arcf. Zool. p. 339, No. 203.— 

 Turdus minimus, verlice Aurio, the least Golden-crown Thrush, Bartram, p. 

 290. 



Though the epithet golden-crowned, is not very suitable for this bird, 

 that part of the head being rather of a brownish orange, yet, to avoid 

 confusion, I have retained it. 



This is also a migratory species, arriving in Pennsylvania late in 

 April, and leaving us again late in September. It is altogether an 

 inhabitant of the woods, runs along the ground like a lark, and even 

 along the horizontal branches, frequently moving its tail in the manner 

 of the Wagtails. It has no song ; but a shrill, energetic twitter, formed 

 by the rapid reiteration of two notes, peehe, peche, peche, for a quarter 

 of a minute at a time. It builds a snug, somewhat singular nest, on 

 the ground, in the woods, generally on a declivity facing the south. 

 This is formed of leaves and dry gra.ss, and lined with hair. Though 

 sunk below the surface, it is arched over, and only a small hole left for 

 entrance ; the eggs arc four, sometimes five, white, irregularly spotted 



