G2G WATEPx THRUSH. 



liuve, however, found tlu' nest among low bushes in a swauipv place. On account of the 

 singular oven-shaped nest being composed of dried leaves and covered with tlu'm. it is 

 very (hfficult to find, and I have often searched in vain for it, when I was certain that it 

 was within a few 3'ards of me. When startled suddenly from her eggs the femiile will 

 counterfeit huneness, to draw oil" the attention of the intruder, and, unlike the other s'.nall 

 thrushes, i)oth sexes exhibit great soli(ntude whenever tliey are disturl)ed during the sea- 

 son of incubation, sounding their sharp alarm notes, but taking care to keep at a safe dis- 

 tance ; yet they can hardly be called shy. 



After breeding, this little species retires to the swamps to moult, and then keej)s in 

 such close seclusion as to be seldom seen. About the middle of Septeml)er they lea\e for 

 tlie South. The Gi)lden-crowned Thrush has funiliarized itself to us by means of its loud, 

 cheerful song and has thus becoiue one of the elements of beauty in our woodland retreats. 



This is an exceedingly comiuon species on the Bahamas during winter and is singu- 

 larly called Night Walker l)y the natives. Here they fVe(|uent the thick growth of shrub- 

 bery and i-emain until the first week in May. I found tliem also comn.ion on Inagua, in 

 Jamaica, ar.d on both ('avman Brae and Little CaNiuan in ISSy. 



SEIURUS NOVEBORACEMSIS. 



Water Thrush 



Tunlus ( SeiuiTis ) WMveboracensis Nuttall. Man. 1, iS32, o.^o. 



DESCRIPTIOISI. 



Sr. Cii. Form, slender. Bill, not stout. Sternum, of the same form as that of the precedinj^ species, 

 but the keel is proportionately higher. The tongue is rather narrow, and differs from that of any Wagtail 

 Thrush, which I have seen, in having the extremity divided into numerous cilia, about five hundredtlis of an 

 inch in length. The sides of one-fourth of its terminal length, are also fringed with shorter ones. 



Color. Adult. Above, uniform dark olivaceous brown. Suiierciliary stripe extending back along the 

 sides of the head, and entire under parts, pale greenish yellow, with the chin, throat, breast and sides cov- 

 ered with triangular spots of the same color as the back. The top of the head is sometimes streaked with 

 darker. Feathers at the base of the upper mandible have a concealed spot of pale buff. Tiie tints, above 

 and below, vary much in intensity. The line over the eye in some individuals is much purer than in others. 

 The spots also vary greatly in number, especially on the chin and throat ; they are also darker and broader 

 on the breast, but in one small specimen from Key West, they are so much largei- and crowded, as to form a 

 band. Bill, brown, lighter at base of lower mandible. Iris and feet, brown. Young, similar to the adult, 

 but are rather more reddish above ; the under parts are greener. There is also a faint indication of a reddish 

 central stripe on the head. Young in the nestling plumage, with the feathers above more spotted with red. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 This differs from the closely allied species, S. ludovicianus, by the greater number, and darker color 

 of the spots beneath, and by the under parts being greener. The line over the eye in ludovicianus is pure 

 wliite ; the feet are also very pale, being nearly white. This species is found during the breeding season 

 throughout Eastern United States, north to Hudson's Bay. It winters in Southern Florida, Bahamas and 

 the West Indies ; may also pass into South America. 



DliNlENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of seven specimens. Length, 5.88; stretch, 9.33; wing, 2.!)1 ; tail. 2.02; bill, 

 .52; tarsus, .78. Greatest length, (i.lO: greatest extent of wings, 10.03: greatest length of wing, iilO; of 



