RUFOUS-HEADED MARSH-BIRD 119 
The long whistling note above mentioned is their 
only song, but it varies considerably, and often 
sounds as mellow and sweet as the whistle of the 
European Blackbird. 
The nest is an ingenious structure of dry grasses, 
fastened to the upright stems of an aquatic plant, 
three or four feet above the water. The eggs are 
four, in size and form like those of the English Song- 
Thrush, spotted somewhat sparsely with black on a 
light blue ground. 
The young birds are entirely black at first, and 
afterwards assume on the head and neck a pale terra- 
cotta red, which gradually deepens to vivid scarlet. 
RUFOUS-HEADED MARSH-BIRD 
Agelzus ruficapillus 
Glossy blue-black ; crown and middle of throat deep chestnut-red ; 
bill and legs black; length 7.5 inches. 
THE sexes are alike in this species: the crown of 
the head is rufous, and with this exception the whole 
plumage is a rich glossy blue-black. The beauty of 
the bird and its delicate plaintive voice would no 
doubt make it a favourite with man if he saw more 
of it, only it lives and breeds in marshes and does 
not come near his habitations. The Rufous-heads 
are gregarious and migratory. The flock can scarcely 
be said to break up in the breeding-season, as the 
