176 ZOOLOGY. 



water, and appears to be equally at home either on the surface or under. One curious fact I 

 noticed in regard to this bird is, that I frequently saw them singly or in cotiples, but never mors 

 tJian two together. In fact, they seem to prefer solitude, and eschew all sociable communion, or 

 the slightest attempt at gregarious life, except the indispensable union of a pair for the purpose 

 of procreation. 



I never saw this bird on or near still water. They prefer and delight in wild mountain 

 streams, where, among cascades, eddies, and swift currents, they lead their curious lives. 



George Gibbs, esq., in a letter to me, mentions seeing this bird at Bellingham bay, and also 

 says: "The bird described by Nuttall as the American water ouzel was common on the Salmon 

 river, which is a rapid, brawling stream. As I sat at my cradle on the bank, a pair of them, 

 which I suppose had their nests hard by, or perhaps, as it was July or August, had already 

 hatched their brood, used to play in the water near me, sometimes alighting at the head of a 

 rapid, allowing themselves to be swept under, and then rising below. They dive with great 

 celerity, and at times beat the water with their wings, throwing the spray over themselves. 

 Their whistle was sweet and rather sad, but they seemed very happy and busy fellows notwith- 

 standing, and in no wise afraid of the harsh rattle of the miner's cradle." 



It is not uncommon on the small streams about Puget Soinid, but still not so numerous as 

 in the Rocky mountains. — S. 



Family SYLVICOLIDAE.— The Warblers. 



Sub-Family MOTACILLINAE.— T h e Wagtails. 

 ANTHUS LUDOVICIANUS, Licht. 



American Tit Loi'lc. 



Alauda ludoviciana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 793. 



Anthm ludovicianus, Licht. Verz. 1823, 37, no. 421. — Rich. List, 1837. — Bonap. List, 1838. — Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 



249.— Addubon, Synopsis, 1839, 94.— Ib. Birds Amer. HI, 1841, 40 ; p). 150. 

 .(!&[«(/« to/i', Wilson, Am. Orn. V, 1812, 89; pi. Ixxxix. 

 Anthm spmoldta, Bonap. Synopsis, 1828, 90, (not of Linnaeus.)— Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1632, 408 : V, 1839, 449; pi. 80.— 



NoTTALL, Man. I, 1832, 450. 

 Anthus aguatiais, Aud. Name on PI. x, folioed. 



Anthus pipieus, Aud. Orn. Biog. 1, 1832, 408 : V, 1839, 449 ; pi. 80. (Young ? ) 

 " Antltus ludovicianus, Light." Baird, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 232. 



Sp. Cn. — (Female, in spring.) Above olive brown, each feather slightly darker towards the central portion ; beneath pale dull 

 buff, or yellowish brown, with a maxillary series of dark brown spots and streaks across the breast and along sides. Ring round 

 the eye, and superciliary stripe yellowish. Central tail feathers like the back, others dark blackish brown ; the external one 

 white, except at the base within ; a white spot at the end of the second. Primaries edged with whitish, other quills with pale 

 brownish. Length, 6 to G. 50 ; extent, 10| to 11 ; wing, 3. 45 ; tail, 2. 95. Iris, dark brown ; bill, yellow and black ; feet, brown. 



Httb. — North America generally. Greenland, (Reinhardt.) Accidental in Europe. 



The American tit lark i.s abundant on the prairies of the Territory during winter, and, 

 probably, breeds on the mountains. In September it arrives on the prairies along the coast in 

 large flocks, and remains until May; but I believe none are found there during summer. — C. 



Found by me in St. Mary's valley, Washington Territory. — S. 



