AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



289 



hunting them and other shore bird during the migration, for the cent 

 or possibly two cents apiece that they will bring in the market. Were 

 it not for the remote breeding grounds and the fact that they have few 

 enemies there, they would long ago have become scarce, but as it is, 

 they do not seem to decrease in numbers year by year even with the 

 heavy tax upon their lives that is exacted as they seek shelter 

 or food upon our inhospitable shores. They are one of the least sus- 

 picious of all the shore birds and will light among and feed around 

 decoys totally unaware of the danger that may await them. Their 

 notes when flying are a musical "tweet-weet" a sound easily imitat- 

 ed and a repetition of which will usually cause them to swerve in their 

 flight and to alight on the beach in front of the. observer. Naturally 

 the numbers when they return north in the spring are greatly less and 

 they also tarry shorter on the way so that comparatively few of them 

 are then killed. 



A 



LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH, 



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By Harry R. Caldwell, M. A. 



o 





XI II 11 



NE of the first birds to break the long silence of the 

 wooded southland with its mating call is the spirited 

 and always happy Louisiana Water Thrush. In Feb- 

 ruary, while the male Bluebirds are settling their 

 differences in combat, the Water Thrush is luring the 

 pretty one of his choice in the wooded fastness with 

 his quaint but beautiful song. If at this season of the 

 year we betake ourself to the haunt of the Louisiana 

 Water Thrush we will hear it resounding with a melody 

 of song. But upon examination we will find that the whole chorus 

 issues from the throat of a single male, wooing his love, or now rejoic- 

 ing over having won so lovely a mate. In early spring there is no 

 other bird that so completely fills the wooded glen and dell with song 

 as does the Water Thrush, but as the nesting season draws nigh he 

 surrenders his right of song to the Wood Thrush which at this time 

 arrives from winter quarters with his flute well in tune. 



