AMERICAN ORNITHOLGY. 225 



LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH. 



A. O. U. No. 676. (Seiurusmotacilla) 



Eastern United States, north to southern New England and Michi- 

 gan and east of the plains. Breeds from the Gulf States northwards 

 and winters in the West Indies, Mexico and Central America. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, over 6 inches; extent, 10.5 inches; tail, 2.5 inches; Bill 

 and eye dark brown; the lower mandible being rather lighter than the 

 upper. Feet pale brown. Upper parts, including the wings and tail, 

 which are unmarked, are a dark olive brown. Under parts white and 

 except the throat and belly streaked with olive brown. This bird is 

 quite similar to the common Water Thrush except that it is larger, 

 the streaks are less numerous and the throat of the common variety is 

 also finely streaked or spotted. The bill is also noticably larger in 

 the Louisiana variety. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



The nest of the Louisiana Water Thrush is made of leaves and 

 grasses and generally situated under the edge of an overhanging bank 

 or the roots of a tree. They lay from four to six white eggs these be- 

 ing spotted and specked with reddish brown more conspicuously in the 

 form of a wreath around the larger end, although the entire surface 

 may be sprinkled with them. 



HABITS 



Any of our New England brooks flowing through a fair size open 

 piece of timber, will be a great inducement for one or two pair of 

 Louisiana Water Thrushes to use the banks or roots of overturned 

 trees along its course as their summer residence. 



This bird is of a retiring disposition, yet not averse to making its 

 presence known but not often seen, and arrives in this locality about 

 the middle of April. The male arrives first, but is soon followed by 

 the female. At this time it will be seen feeding along the banks of the 

 stream, flying just ahead of you, and when on the ground, bobbing its 

 body up and down resembling in many ways the Tipup or Spotted 

 Sandpiper. When suddenly disturbed while feeding, it will utter a 



