LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH. 101 



The plant on which I have placed a male (the sexes being so nearly 

 alike as to offer no external cUstinctive characters) is commonly called the 

 Indian Turnip. It grows abundantly in the places frequented by this 

 bird. The root, which is like a small potato, is extremely pungent. 



TuRDUS LUDOVICIANUS. 



Adult Male. Plate XIX. 



Bill of ordinary length, straight, slender, tapering to a point, broadish 

 at the base, compressed toward the end ; upper mandible with the edges 

 sharp, and destitute of a notch. Nostrils basal, rounded, half closed by 

 a membrane. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender ; tarsus a little 

 longer than the middle toe ; toes free ; claws slender, much compressed, 

 arched, acute, the hind one not much larger than that of the middle toe. 



Plumage ordinary, soft, slightly glossy ; a few bristles at the base of 

 the upper mandible. Wings of ordinary length ; first quill longest. 

 Tail shortish, a little notched, the feathers rather obtuse. 



Bill deep brown above, black at the tip, flesh-coloured beneath. Iris 

 deep brown. Feet and claws brown, tinged with blue. The general co- 

 lour of the upper parts is dull greenish-brown, that of the under parts 

 yellowish- white. A streak of the latter colour over the eye, from the 

 base of the upper mandible, and another from the base of the lower, curv- 

 ing upwards behind the ear-coverts. Fore-neck and breast marked with 

 sagittiform spots of blackish-brown ; sides under the wings streaked with 

 the same colour. 



Length 5| inches, extent of wings 9g ; bill along the ridge 5, along 

 the gap f ; tarsvis |. 



The female, as has been said, hardly differs from the male in appeai'- 

 ance. 



The Indian Turnip. 



Arum triphyllum, TVilld. Sp. PI. vol. iv. p. 480. Pursh, Flor. Amer. vol. i. p. 399. 



— POLYANDRIA POLTGYNIA, Linn. ArOIDEjE, JltSS. 



Somewhat caulescent ; leaves ternate, with ovate acuminate leaflets ; 

 spadix clavate ; flowers monoecious. The flowers are green and purple, 

 and the -roots are used by the Indians as a remedy for colic. 



