262 



U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



(2159.) It is especially noticable in No. 8020, from Guatemala. This is also of an unusually 

 dark olive above. 



The female differs only in being a little smaller, and perhaps in having the spots beneath 

 more restricted. Autumnal and winter specimens are decidedly more sulphury yellow beneath, 

 and the spots less sharply defined. There is little variation in the size of bill and feet in individuals 

 of the same sex. 



It is somewhat a question whether the Seiurus sulfurascens of authors be not merely the winter 

 plumage, as observed in South America. This conclusion can only be avoided by showing that 

 the sulphur-bellied bird breeds in South America in this plumage. 



List of specimens. 



SEIURUS LUDOVICIANUS, Bonap. 



Large-billed Water Thrnsh. 



.'.' Turdus motacilla, Vieillot, Ois. Am, Sept, II, 1807, 9 ; pi, Ixv. 

 Turdus Iwdovicianus, Add. Orn, Biog, I, 1&32, 99 ; pi. 19. 

 Seiurus ludoviciantis, Bonap, List, 1838. 

 Seiurus motacilla, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 306, (Not of Vieillot.) 

 Henicocichla major, Cabanis, Mus. Hein, 1850, 16. (Xalapa,) 



gp Cu, Bill longer than the skull. Upper parts olive brown with a shade of greenish. A conspicuous white superciliary line 



from the bill to the nape, involving the upper lid, with a brown one from the bill through the eye, widening behind. Under 

 parts white, with a very faint shade of pale buff behind, especially on the tail coverts. A dusky maxillary line ; the fore part 

 of breast and sides of body, with arrow shaped streaks of the same color. Chin, throat, belly, and under tail coverts entirely 

 immaculate. Length, 6.33 ; wing, 3.25 ; tail, 2.40 ; bill from rictus, .75. 



j/ai.— Eastern United States to the Missouri. South to Mexico. 



This species may be readily distinguished from the S. novehoracensis by its larger size, 

 especially of bill and tarsi, wliich are very conspicuously larger, the former especially. The 

 color above is of perhaps a lighter olivaceous. The stripe over the eye, besides being more 

 conspicuous, is, with the under parts, of a decided white, instead of brownish yellow; the spots 

 beneath are paler and much fewer in number ; the chin and throat, the middle of the posterior 

 portion of the breast, the sides of the body behind, and the under tail coverts, being entirely 



