158 SYLVICOLID^E : AMERICAN WARBLERS.' 



tal purity of the eggs. The latter are from four to six 

 in number, brilliantly white, marked with reddish- 

 brown, darker brown, and lilac spots, sometimes pro- 

 fusely and evenly distributed over the whole surface, 

 when they are mostly mere dots, sometimes larger 

 spots being confluently wreathed at or about the greater 

 end of the egg. Specimens measure from 0.75 to 0.83 

 in length by 0.58 to 0.60 in breadth. They are laid 

 early in June. The different nature of its haunts aside, 

 the Water Thrush has much in common with the 

 Oven-bird in its habits and traits ; its song is loud, clear 

 and melodious, and nothing like the peculiar chant of 

 the Oven-bird is heard from this shy recluse of the 

 swamp. It walks very prettily over the ground with 

 mincing steps, frequently arrested to indulge its charac- 

 teristic habit of see-sawing the tail like a Titlark or 

 Spotted Sandpiper ; and is ready at a moment's alarm 

 to disappear on rapid wing in the fastness of the 

 swamp. Though it comes to us in the spring at about 

 the same time that the Golden-crown arrives, it lin- 

 gers later in the fall, not taking final departure until 

 the latter part of October. 



LARGE-BILLED ACCENTOR; LOUISIANA 

 WATER THRUSH. 



SlURUS MOTACILLA ( F.) CoU6S. 



Chars. Like the last species ; larger, averaging about 6.00 in length, 

 the wing 3.00, the bill especially larger over 0.50 in length ; tar- 

 sus nearly i.oo. Under parts white, more or less tinged with 

 buff, especially posteriorly, but never sulphury-yellow ; the streaks 

 sparse, pale, and not very sharp, leaving throat, belly, and cris- 

 sum unmarked ; feet pale. 



