Louisiana Water-thrush 53 



it, the song begins invariably on the last syllable of Mr. 

 Burrough's word and ends on the first; therefore I believe 

 that the word shirtee is more nearly exact. 1 



Louisiana Water-thrush. — Seiurus molacilla. 6.27 

 Rare Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Walks, and constantly teeters; white line over 

 eye; under parts faintly washed with buffy; breast and 

 sides streaked with very dark brown; throat unspotted; 

 otherwise similar to Oven-bird. 



This is a bird of the mountain torrent, through the spray 

 of which it darts so rapidly that never but a glimpse of it can 

 be obtained. I once found three of the nests, all of which 

 were in wild places and close to small streams. In spite of 

 all my efforts I could never get close enough to observe the 

 parent birds; but one day I managed to creep close to a nest 

 set deep in a bank and catch the female with my hand. 

 After examining her closely I gave her her liberty. The eggs 

 are five in number, creamy-white, speckled and blotched 

 with reddish-brown and lilac. The Louisiana Water-Thrush 

 breeds rarely in Albany County. The novice will probably 



'After writing the above, I chanced strengthened, though Miss Paddock's 



to read over the article on the Oven- spelling of the first syllable is un- 



bird in Frank M. Chapman's new work doubtedly the better. Mr. Chapman 



"The Warblers of North America," writes: "Formerly, singing Oven-birds 



finding the following observation by said, to my ear, with remarkable dis- 



Miss I. M. Paddock of St. Johnsbury, tinctness and decision, teacher, teacher, 



Vt: "The words usually given for etc., in the usual crescendo chant, but 



this song, teacher teacher, seem to me as I now hear the song the accent is 



to be begun with the second syllable placed on the last syllable." Does 



thus: cher-tea cher-tea cher-tea." I Mr. Chapman mean that the bird has 



have decided to let my rendering changed its song, or that he now hears 



stand as I think my position has been more correctly? 



