550 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



thrilling burst that is startling and wild. The proper accom- 

 paniment is a wild, wooded glen in which a stream tumbles 

 over its rocky bed. Like the Water Thrush, this species has 

 two song periods, the first closing late in June or early July, 

 the second beginning in early August. 



I have heard the passion song in August, also. The passion 

 song of the Water Thrushes are so much alike that a descrip- 

 tion of one will serve for all. There is in each the same ring- 

 ing ecstacy of joy. The song seems to swing once round a 

 great circle with incredible swiftness but perfect ease, ending 

 in a bubbling diminuendo as the performer lightly touches the 

 perch or ground with half rigid wings held high. The song 

 is a flight song, usually occupying less than half a minute, but 

 packed with the intense life of a bird. I have seen the Oven- 

 bird suddenly vault into the air, mounting to the tree tops on 

 quivering wings, then dart back and forth in a zigzag course 

 swift as an arrow, and finally burst into a song as he floated 

 gently down. There is some difference in the passion songs of 

 the three species, which seems to be in the use of some notes of 

 the ordinary song at the close, rarely at the beginning. Some- 

 times the Oven-bird closes his passion song with a burst of 

 perfect call song. It seems hardly fair to say that the songs 

 of the Water Thrushes are Thrush-like, since there is almost 

 nothing of the true Thrush timbre to their songs. On the 

 contrary, a careful analysis discloses, rather, a true Warbler 

 timbre, obscured as it is." (Jones). 



A nest found by the author June 23, 1908, contained three 

 eggs, incubation about seven days advanced. This nest was 

 composed of moss, lichens and fine roots, and was situated in 

 the mossy, upturned roots of a tree about two feet from the 

 ground in dense, swampy woods beside a brook where the 

 author was fishing. 



676. Seiurus motacilla (yieilL). Louisiana Water Thrush; 

 Large-billed Water Thrush; Large-billed Wagtail Warbler. 



