188 BIRDS OF OHIO. 
Its oven-shaped nest is not readily seen among the dead 
leaves, of which the exterior is made. The crescendo chant is 
one of the characteristics of some woods. The bird’s dress so 
hamonizes with the environment that the chant may well 
be considered a spirit chant coming from everywhere and 
nowhere. The birds seldom mount high in the trees, but 
remain near the ground, walking about as any civilized bird 
should. 
The Oven-bird reaches Oberlin near the 24th of April, 
sings until July 10, rarely later, and leaves us for the south 
during the last week of September, sometimes later. 
263. (675.) SEIURUS NOVEBORACENSIS (Gmel.). 55. 
Water-Thrush. 
Synonyms: Siurus nevius, Sylvia noveboracensis, Turdus nove- 
boracensis, Motacilla nevia, M. noveboracensis. 
Water Wagtail, Water Thrush, Small-billed Water-Thrush, 
Bessy Kickup, River Pink, Aquatic Accentor, New York 
Aquatic Thrush. 
Kirtland, Ohio, Geol. Surv., 1838, 163, 181 (part). 
This warbler is hardly common in most sections of the 
state. It is sometimes almost so at Oberlin, for a few days 
in spring. Like the other members of this genus it is a 
lover of damp places, preferring those that are somewhat 
swampy, while with us. I have never seen it higher up in 
the trees than ten feet, and then only when it was greatly 
disturbed. Its wild ringing song is given from a low perch 
or from the ground. When being pursued the bird has a 
habit of darting off and returning behind the pursuer or 
silently running ahead several rods and flitting close to the 
ground to appear far at one side. The quest is a nerve- 
wearing one, but if once in a dozen times you see the bird 
a moment before he glides away that is reward enough. You 
don’t wish to have all birds perch on your nose! 
The Water-Thrush reaches Oberlin about the 3d of May 
and passes north with the warbler host about May 22. It 
returns during the early days of September and remains un- 
til the Ist of October. 
