THE OOLOGIST. 



49 



The Oologist. 



A Monthly Publication Devoted to 



OOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY AND 

 TAXIDERMY. 



FRANK H. LATTIN, Editor and Publisher, 

 ALBION, N. Y. 



Correspondence and Items of Interest to the 

 student of Birds, their Nests and Eggs, solicited 

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A« SECOND-CLASS MATTER. 



Notes on the Louisiana Water Thrush. 



This diminutive aquatic species is one 

 of the tirst summer visitors to make its 

 appearance in our locality, usually ar- 

 riving about Mai'ch 20th. With us it is 

 by no means an extraordinary rare vis 

 itor. During breeding season speci- 

 mens may be commonly observed along 

 the river's brink, and up the creeks and 

 small streams leading thereto, which 

 places constitute its chief abodes. 



It is decidedly interesting to observe 

 this bird while seeking its prey, us it 

 moves to and fro with the utmost care- 

 fulness and ease, giving its head an oc- 

 casional bob and uttering at intervals 

 its characteristic chic, while in quest of 

 some bug that may be found playing 

 upon the waters (ir worm basking in 

 the sun along the banks. 



Only a short time elapses after its 

 arrival before the important task of 

 nest building is entered upon. This is 

 accomplished in the usual elaborate and 

 systematic manner. After selecting a 

 suita'ile site in the side of a bank over 

 some stream and very often over a 

 spring or springy locality, a hole of suf- 

 ficient depth, to hold the nest and eggs 

 with absolute safety, is scratched out, 

 being generally under or over some root 

 that juts out and runs along the bank. 

 This being done, a thick layer of wet 

 decayed leaves stuck together by means 

 of mud is deposited. To this a mass of 

 rootlets with an occasional piece of 

 moss is added, thus forming the lining 

 and completing the nest. 



I have, however, in some instances, 

 collected nests wnich had nothing more 

 than a mass of tine grass for the lining. 



The eggs are usually live in number 

 and are covered with very pretty mark- 

 ings. 



1 have at times collected sets of four, 

 and in one case a set of three with in- 

 cubation far advanced. 



Nest building commences between 

 the 1st and 15th of April. 



The earliest set that I have overtaken 

 was on April 18, 1897, with incubation 

 slightly advanced, the latest on May 

 22, 1895. 



One peculiarity with this species, 

 which is attributable to but few others, 

 is its startling and amusing action upon 

 being aroused from the nest. 



Tumbling out of the nest it will flut- 

 ter and roll over and over in the water 

 for several yards down stream, appear- 

 ing as if its head were severed from its 

 body. 



