WATER THRUSH. 123 



But Pennsylvania is not the favourite resort of this species. 

 The cane-brakes, swamps, river shores, and deep watery soli- 

 tudes of Louisiana, Tennessee, and the Mississippi Territory, 

 possess them in abundance; there they are eminently distinguish- 

 ed by the loudness, sweetness and expressive vivacity of their 

 notes, which begin very high and clear, falling with an almost 

 imperceptible gradation till they are scarcely articulated. At 

 these times the musician is perched on the middle branches of 

 a tree over the brook or river bank, pouring out his charming 

 melody, that may be distinctly heard for nearly half a mile. 



The voice of this little bird appeared to me so exquisitely 

 sweet and expressive, that I was never tired of listening to it, 

 while traversing the deep shaded hollows of those cane-brakes 

 where it usually resorts. I have never yet met with its nest. 



The Water Thrush is six inches long, and nine and a half in 

 extent; the whole upper parts are of a uniform and very dark 

 olive, with a line of white extending over the eye, and along 

 the sides of the neck; the lower parts are white, tinged with 

 yellow ochre; the whole breast and sides are marked with poin- 

 ted spots or streaks of black or deep brown; bill dusky brown; 

 legs flesh-coloured; tail nearly even; bill formed almost exact- 

 ly like the Golden-crowned Thrush, ( Turdus arocapillus] and 

 except in frequenting the water, much resembling it in manners. 

 Male and female nearly alike. 



