WOOD WARBLERS. 367 



comparatively rare they become ! The reason is not hard to find. At 

 most times the Oven-bird is somewhat of a recluse. He passes much 

 of his time on or near the ground, generally where the woods are more 

 or less undergrown. Only the practiced ear will detect his sharp, weak 

 cheep. 



If there be such a thing as inspiration, I believe the Oven-bird sings 

 under its influence. Not that his usual song is in the least remark- 

 able, but because the bird is so obviously moved by a spirit which de- 

 mands utterance. Watch him now as he is about to sing. Flying up 

 from the ground, how cautiously he hops from branch to branch, and, 

 with crest slightly erect, walks carefully along a limb, when, suddenly 

 overcome by the music in his soul, he throws fear to the winds and 

 lifts up his voice in a crescendo chant which vibrates through the 

 woods. Teacher, teacher, teacher, TEACHER, TEACHER, Mr. 

 Burroughs writes it, and the description is difficult to improve upon. 



The bird fairly quivers with the violence of his effort. The result 

 seems inadequate ; we feel that he is striving for something better, 

 and, in truth, as Mr. Bicknell says, he sometimes breaks the bonds 

 that ordinarily beset his expression, and " bursts forth with a wild out- 

 pouring of intricate and melodious song," the very force of which 

 carries him up into the air among the tree tops. 



675. Seiurus noveboracensis {Gmel.). Water Thrush. Ad.— 

 Upper parts, wings, and tail uniform olive ; no wing-bars or tail-patches ; a 

 butty line over the eye ; under parts white, tinged with pale sulphur-yellow, 

 and everywhere — including throat — streaked with black. L., 6-04 ; W., 2-99 ; 

 T., 2-11 ; B. from N., -36. 



Range. — Eastern North America ; breeds from northern Illinois and north- 

 ern New England northward ; winters from the Gulf States to northern South 

 America. 



Washington, common T. V., Apl. 25 to May 25; July 20 to Sept. Sing 

 Sing, tolerably common T. V., May 11 to 21 ; July 28 to Oct. 3. Cambridge, 

 very common T. V., May 8 to 25 ; Aug. 10 to Oct. 10. 



Nest, of moss, lined with tendrils and fine rootlets, in a mossy bank or 

 under the roots of a fallen tree. Eggs, four to five, white or buffy white, with 

 numerous cinnamon-brown markings, chiefly about the larger end, -76 x -59. 



In general habits this bird resembles its southern relative, the 

 Louisiana Water-Thrush, but during its migrations it is frequently 

 found some distance from water, and I have known birds spend sev- 

 eral days beneath evergreen trees on a lawn a quarter of a mile from 

 the woods. It is, too, much less shy than motacilla, and one can gen- 

 erally approach closely enough to take note of the characters which dis- 

 tinguish it from that species— a smaller bill and yellower under parts. 



I have heard it sing only as a migrant, when its song lacked the 

 wiUlness of that of S. motacilla. 



