228 LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH 



The Water-Thrush inhabits not only watered bottom-land forests, 

 where moss-covered logs and rank undergrowth give an almost tropi- 

 cal character to the surroundings, but is also found on hillside and 

 mountain streams where the woods are more open below. Always, 

 however, he requires water, and his food is largely secured from the 

 shores of streams or muddy banks of pools. Even when at ease the 

 bird seems controlled by a sense of restlessness, and not only when 

 walking, but when perching, constantly teeters its body. Both the 

 movement and the bird itself suggest the Dipper {Cinclus) but the 

 Dipper is more of a bobber, the whole body moving from the knees, 

 while the Water-Thrush is a tilter or teeterer, its longer tail accent- 

 uating this type of motion. 



Allison (MS.) writes that the typical breeding haunt of the 

 Louisiana Water-Thrush in Mississippi, "is the bank of a clear, run- 

 ning stream, flowing over white sand and pebbles ; the smaller streams 

 are generally chosen, but creeks and small rivers are not without their 

 Water-Thrushes. The southern limit of its breeding range seems to 

 be determined by the presence of such streams, and therefore probably 

 does not extend to the Gulf coast." 



Song. — In recent years I have been impressed with the similarity 

 between the song of this species and that of Dcndroica dominica. The 

 song of Seiitrus is louder and wilder but as sung by the individuals 

 which have come to my attention it is less musical than that of 

 dominica which lacks the concluding twitter characteristic of the 

 Water-Thrush song. The flight-song of this species is a thrilling 

 performance which carries the bird above the tree-tops in uncon- 

 trollable musical ecstacy. The call-note resembles that of Seiurus 

 noveboracensis but to my ear is slightly louder. 



William Brewster describes the song of this species as "somewhat 

 like that of .S". noveboracensis, being quite as loud, almost as rapid, 

 and commencing in nearly the same way but lacking the beautiful 

 crescendo termination, and altogether, a less fine performance. Repre- 

 sented by words it would be nearly as follows: pseur, psenr, per see 

 ser." 



"The call-note is not distinguishable from that of S. novebora- 

 censis. The song — uttered, it seems, only at the breeding-ground in 

 the breeding season — is remarkably fine, being very loud, clear, and 

 far-reaching. It is generally uttered from a perch very near, or over, 

 the water, — not from the ground." (Allison, MS.) 



"The song varies a good deal. May ii, 1897, I heard a song of 

 eight notes as follows: first two low, next two high, then four low. and 



