THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 391 

 SEIURUS MOTACILLA (Vieillot) 

 LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH, PETIT CHIT 



Tardus motacilla Vieillot, Ois. Araer. Sept., vol. 2, 1807 (1808?), p. 9, pi. 65 

 (Kentucky). 



Siurus ludovicianus, Cory, Bull. Nuttall Ornith. Club, 1S81, p. 151 (Haiti, 

 specimens). 



Seiurus motacilla, Cory, Birds Haiti and San Domingo, March, 1884, pp. 35— 

 36 (Petionville, Puerto Plata, La Vega, specimens) ; Cat. West Indian Birds, 

 1892, p. 119 (Haiti, Dominican Republic). — Tippenhauer, Die Insel Haiti, 1892, 

 p. 321 (listed). — Cherrie, Field Columbian Mus., Ornith. ser., vol. 1, 1S96, p. 11 

 (Dominican Republic, specimen). — Verrill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 

 vol. 61, 1909, p. 365 (Dominican Republic). — Bond, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil- 

 adelphia, vol. 80, 1928, p. 513 (Haiti, Gonave Island). 



Migrant from North America; fairly common. 



The Louisiana water-thrush is found principally along little fresh 

 water streams but comes to salt water during its migration move- 

 ments. It spends much of its time on the ground at the edge of the 

 water, steadily wagging the tail up and down as it walks about. 

 When disturbed it frequently flies to a tree-limb to rest a moment 

 before going down again to the ground. 



In the Dominican Republic the species is first reported by Cory 

 from specimens taken at Puerto Plata November 17, 1882, and 

 August 12 and 14, 1883. The latter dates which indicate very early 

 arrival in fall migration from the north caused Cory to believe that 

 the species was resident for which however there is no basis. Cher- 

 rie secured one near Catarrey January 22, 1895. Verrill reports it 

 " common during migrations, but confined to the vicinity of salt 

 water," in which he seems to have confused it with the other species 

 of water-thrush, which is found only along the coast, the present bird 

 being the one that regularly goes inland. A specimen in the collec- 

 tion of J. H. Fleming, taken by Verrill was collected at Samana 

 February 20, 1907. 



In Haiti a bird of this species was secured near Port-au-Prince, 

 February 26, 1866, by A. E. Younglove. Cory collected two, one 

 of which was shot at Petionville March 2, 1881. He does not give 

 the locality for the second one. Wetmore in 1927 observed one 

 among mangroves at the sulphur spring at Sources Puantes on 

 March 29, where it was in company with the other water-thrush. He 

 saw one at the coffee experiment station at Fonds-des-Negres March 

 31, and on April 2 collected one in that vicinity on the Riviere Seche 

 at about 375 meters elevation. James Bond reports one from 

 Gonave Island. 



The Louisiana water-thrush is from 127 to 140 mm. in length. It 

 is olive above, with a prominent white line extending over the eye. 



