442 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



sometimes not before the 2oth; in western New York usually not before 

 the 1 8th to the 24th of April. In the fall it is last seen between the 24th 

 and 3Oth of August according to many observers, but the last dates given 

 by Cha'pman for the vicinity of New York City and the observations 

 at Englewood, N. J., give September 20 to 30 as the date of departure. 



Haunts and habits. The Louisiana or Large-billed water thrush 

 prefers wooded stream sides, especially rugged streams where the water is 

 tumbling over the rocks and steep banks. It is found near the bottom of 

 these ravines, usually seeking its food of water insects in the shallow stream 

 as it runs over beds of shale, or flitting from rock to rock that rise just above 

 the surface. In the southern states it is said to abound in rich wooded 

 bottomlands, but in New York it is rarely found in swampy localities, 

 leaving these situations more to the Northern water thrush. Yet a few 

 have been found nesting in swampy woods in the same locality with the 

 other species although, as far as my observation goes, there is a sharp 

 contrast in the habitat of the two species, the Northern water thrush 

 keeping to the flooded swamps where there is dense cover of forest and 

 underbrush, and moss-covered logs are in abundance on every hand; 

 whereas this species prefers, as stated, the shaly glens of our Finger Lakes 

 region, making its nest close to the bottom of the gully, usually only 2 or 

 3 feet above the level of the stream which flows through the glen. 



The song of this species resembles somewhat that of the Northern 

 water thrush, the flight song being particularly thrilling. This is often 

 uttered as the bird rises from the lower portions of the glen and mounts 

 up above the treetops, pouring forth a sudden burst of melody which 

 Brewster syllables by the words " pseur, pseur, per see, ser," fully as loud 

 as that of the Northern water thrush and almost as rapid, but lacking 

 the beautiful crescendo termination, and altogether a less fine performance. 

 The call note is scarcely different from that of the Northern water thrush, 

 which Chapman describes as a sharp, steely alarm note, " clink," and Thayer 

 calls " a ringing chip somewhat less loud and emphatic than that of the 

 Louisiana water thrush." Stone says: " In every ravine and gully 



