174 THE WATER-THRUSH. 



oughly the swamp is choked by down timber the better, for it is the Thrush's 

 delight to walk along a fallen log, especially if one end of it passes gradually 

 beneath the black waters. The bird is less wary than the resident form, 

 and will often merely walk to one side when approached; but^if driven to 

 take wing it utters a sharp chink of farewell, and flies off in great, graceful 

 bounds, which, amid the network of interlacing branches, command admiration 

 both for speed and accuracy. 



During the fall migrations, which begin in the latter part of August, 

 the Water Thrushes sometimes fairly swarm, not only in the vicinity of 

 pools and water courses, now less abundant, but under the shade trees and in 

 upland woods. The birds have developed a proper autumnal taste, and to see 

 one working over a patch of fallen leaves is a treat. The industrious little 

 hen siezes in her beak a leaf three times her size, and by a quick jerk tosses 

 it far aside.; after which she snaps up the lurking insect prey and passes 

 quickly on to move other worlds. 



The song of the northern Water Thrush is not so loud or rich as that of 

 the southern, but it is still sprightly and captivating. "Sweet, szveet, sweet, 

 chu-chu-wee-chu," Professor Jones renders it, — "The first three syllables 

 strongly accented and staccato, the last four short and run together into one 

 phrase, the next to the last a third or more higher. Occasionally one sang 

 to to che-zve che-zve che, the first two indistinct, the third, fifth, and last strongly 

 accented and a sixth higher, the fourth and sixth a little lower. Both songs 

 are high-pitched, clear, liquid whistles that carry far." According to the 

 same authority many are to be found singing vigorously during the fall mi- 

 grations. 



There is some slight possibility that the Water Thrush may be found 

 breeding in the northeastern part of the state. It is found regularly in the 

 central northern counties of Pennsylvania, and has also been reported by 

 Mr. Sennett from Crawford County, which adjoins our Ashtabula. 



