WOOD WARBLERS 423 



with down and feathers. Eggs: yellowish or creamy white, spotted 

 chiefly around the larger end with brown and purple. 



GENUS SEIURUS. 



General Characters. Bill with rictal bristles short, but evident ; wings 

 pointed, much longer than tail ; tail nearly even ; tarsus longer than mid- 

 dle toe and claw. 



KEY TO ADULTS. 



1. Crown with orange brown patch inclosed by blackish stripes. 



aurocapillus, p. 423. 

 1'. Crown plain brown like back notabilis, p. 423. 



674. Seiurus aurocapillus (Linn.). OVEN-BIRD. 



Adults. Crown with orange brown patch bordered by two blackish stripes ; 

 rest of upper parts olive green ; under parts white, streaked 

 with blackish across breast and on sides. In winter, colors 

 rather brighter. Young : crown without stripes, back deep 

 brown, narrowly streaked with blackish ; under parts strong 

 buff y, with narrow lines of blackish. Male : length (skins) 

 5.00-5.65, wing 2.79-3.11, tail 2.05-2.28, bill .44-.40. Fe- 

 male: length (skins) 4.90-5.45, wing 2.75-3.11, tail 1.96- 

 2.34, bill .4S-.47. 



Distribution. Breeds in eastern North America northwest to Alaska 

 and from the Arctic Circle to Virginia and southern Kansas ; west to the 

 base of the Rocky Mountains ; winters in southern Florida, the West Indies, 

 and southern Mexico to Panama. 



Nest. In dry woods imbedded in ground, made of dry leaves usually 

 roofed over, the entrance on one side. Eggs : 3 to 6, white or creamy, 

 spotted with reddish brown and lilac gray. 



675a. Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis (Eidgw.). GRIN- 

 NELL WATER-THRUSH. 



Adults. Upper parts sooty olive brown ; superciliary dingy white ; 

 stripe through eye dark brown ; under parts usually white with little if 

 any yellow tinge ; throat finely, and breast and 

 sides broadly streaked with blackish. Young : 

 like adults, but streaks on under parts less dis- 

 tinct, and feathers of upper parts tipped with 

 light fulvous, producing a spotted appearance. 



Male: length (skins) 5.14-5.84, wing 2.90-3.20, tail 2.00-2.25, bill .49-.63. 

 Female : length (skins) 5.01-5.99, wing 2.88-3.11, tail 1.92-2.28, bill .48-.S6. 



Distribution. From Alaska and British America (Fort Churchill) south 

 to Mexico, and from Illinois west to the Pacific coast ; winters from the 

 southern border of the United States south to Lower California, Mexico, 

 and northern South America. 



Nest. On or near the ground, in wet woods or on borders of swamps ; 

 made of moss and grass, sometimes lined with fur. Eggs : 3 to 6, white, 

 spotted with reddish brown and lilac gray. 



The Grinnell water-thrush, like the other water-thrushes, is a soli- 

 tary bird walking quietly over the banks of forest brooks or wading 

 in their shallows tilting its tail like a pipit. When its emotions are 

 stirred, it bursts forth into a loud musical song. 



