LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH. 



musical climax (a high note) with a series of grating tones; 

 the Water-thrush does nothing of the kind, instead he 

 begins with a few clear, sweet whistles, and then drops 

 suddenly to a lower register, the tones fading away in a 

 delicate diminuendo, thus* 



The song is loud and clear for so small a bird and though 

 he is a jubilant singer like the Wren, his method is different, 

 the first half of his short song is a series of sustained rapid 

 tones, the second half is a hurried finale. Like the Oven- 

 bird the Water-thrushes are walkers not hoppers and 

 have a curious habit of flipping the tail as they go. 



Louisiana 

 Water-thrush 



Seiurus 

 motacilla 

 L. 6.20 inches 

 April xoth 



This is the Water-thrush of more southern 

 distribution. It breeds from South Caro- 

 lina and northeastern Texas north to south- 

 ern Minnesota, southern Michigan, Ontario, 

 New York, and southern New England. It 

 is a common summer resident in the valley of the Hudson 

 about New York City and Tarry town, and locally as far 

 north as Catskill and the southern end of Lake George. 

 Mr. Eaton reports that it is found in all the ravines of the 

 central lakes of the State as well as on the banks of streams 

 emptying into Lake Erie. In coloring it very closely 

 resembles the other Water-thrush the same olive brown, 

 the white stripe over the eye, the sepia-black streaks on 

 the breast and sides, but unlike the northern Water-thrush 

 throat and abdomen are unmarked, and the tinge of yellow 

 on the flanks is buffish, the bill is also larger. Nest, gen- 

 erally under the sheltering bank of a stream, or commonly 

 in a cavity at the base of a small tree. Egg, like that of 

 the northern Water-thrush, often beautifully wreathed 

 about the larger end, with cinnamon brown or burnt sienna 

 spots. 



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