1080 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



There is another song, called the air song, which is said to be 

 uttered in the evening while it floats in the air above the treetops of 

 the forest. 



They are often found mating the first week in May. I found the 

 nest and eggs May 13, 1882, at Brookville, and Prof. Evermann found 

 a nest with a full set of eggs May 28, 1883, in Carroll County. The 

 nest is a curious structure, an interesting object of bird architecture, 

 in which the Cowbird also likes to lay her eggs. 



They usually cease singing in June, sometimes extending it until 

 July 23, Mr. E. P. Bicknell tells us. He also says they have a second 

 song period, the extreme dates of which are August 9 and September 

 5. In July and August, if the season is dry, they leave the drier 

 woods and many of them seem to disappear at that time, though all 

 through the latter month, and occasionally in September, and even 

 early in October, they may be met with singly or in little flocks, mak- 

 ing their way southward. The following are the latest records of their 

 occurrence at the places named: Chicago, 111., October 12, 1895; 

 Sedan, Ind., October 1, 1889; Lafayette, September 27, 1895; Greens- 

 burg, September 25, 1897-; Trafalgar, September 26, 1897; Bicknell, 

 October 3, 1894; Brookville, October 15, 1889. 



While they live largely upon insects, particularly through the spring 

 and summer, they also eat many seeds. "Eight out of ten specimens 

 examined had eaten seeds; one, three caterpillars, and one, three 

 beetles" (King, Geol. of Wis., I., p. 507). They have also been found 

 to eat ants, spiders, small snails and berries. 



*281. (675). Seiurus noveboracensis (GMEL,). 



Water Thrush. 

 Synonyms, WATER WAGTAIL, SMALL-BILLED WATER THRUSH. 



Adult. All the upper parts, olive; stripe over eye, yellowish; below, 

 pale sulphur-yellow, brightest on the abdomen; thickly spotted on 

 throat; remaining under parts, except lower belly and lower tail- 

 coverts, streaked with olive-brown. 



Length, 5.00-6.00; wing, 3.00-3.10; tail, 2.25-2.40; bill, from nostril, 

 .35-.S8. 



EANGE. America, from Venezuela and Guiana over the eastern 

 United States, chiefly east of Mississippi River, to the Arctic Coast. 

 Accidental in Greenland. Breeds from northern Illinois and northern 

 New England northward. Winters from Gulf States south. 



Nest, on ground, under bank or the upturned roots of a tree; of 

 leaves, moss and grass, lined with fine grass and rootlets. Eggs, 4-6; 

 white, with reddish-brown and lilac markings; .75 by .57. 



