LARGE-BILLED WATER THRTJSH. 369 



Molacilla nceria, Bodd^rt, Tab. PI. EL, 1783, 47. 

 Motadlla noveboraceneis, Gmblin, Syst. Nat., i, 1788, 958. 

 Sylvia noveboracemsis, Latham, Ind. Orn., 1790, 518. 

 Tardus (Seiurus) noveboracenm, Ntjttali., Man., i, 1832, 353. 

 Seiurus noveboraceneis, Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, 21. 

 Siurus noveboracenais, Sclatkr and Salvin, Ibis, i, 1859, 10. 

 Siurua navius COUES, Ball. Nntt. Clnb, ii, 1877, 32. 



Entire npper parts deep olivaceous brown ; conspicnons superciliary line yellowish ; 

 below white more or less tinged with pale yellowish, thickly and sharply spotted with the 

 color of the back, except on lower belly and crissum ; feet dark. Length 5^-6 ; wing 

 2f; tail2i; bill about \. 



Habitat, North America at large. Mexico, West Indies, Central, and much of South 

 America. 



Common spring and fall migrant. Arrives during the last week in 

 April, and remains about a month. Returns in August and remains, 

 until October. 



This and the following species have been confounded by the older 

 ornithologists, and in consequence the earlier Ohio accounts of each of 

 these birds is unsatisfactory. I have no authentic information of the 

 breeding of this species in the State, and there is a discrepancy in the 

 statements of the latest authorities as to its breeding range. 



In this vicinity it is usually a solitary bird, migrating along the banks 

 of streams, in swampy woods and open wet places. I have seen them in 

 plowed fields on the edges of swamp thickets, and in one instance in 

 my garden. I have never heard the fine song which the bird is said to 

 have. Its ordinary note is a sharp chirp , and when suddenly disturbed 

 it flies from the ground to the lower branches of a tree or to a fence, 

 uttering a sharp note not unlike the cry of the Solitary Sandpiper, with 

 which it frequently associates. Their habits are much those of the 

 Sandpipers, walking in the shallow water and running upon logs, wag- 

 ging their tails constantly. This species appears to be the most terres- 

 trial and aquatic of the genus. The nest, in location and construction, 

 resembles that of the Golden-crowned Thrush. The eggs are oblong oval, 

 measuring from .81 to .87 by .65 to .69. They are clear crystal white in 

 color, with lines, dots and blotches of umber-jbrown. 



SlUBDS MOTACILLA (V.) Cs. 

 I^arge-billed "Water Thmisli. 

 Sylvia noveboracensis, Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Snrv., 1838. 163, 181 (in part.) 

 Turdus noveboracensia, Read, Fam. Visitor, iii, 1853, 399 (in part) ; Proo. Acad. Nat. Soi., 



Phila., vi, 1853, 395 (in part.) 

 "Seiurus ludovicidnua, WBEAflon, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 363, 374; Reprint, 1861, 5, 16; 

 Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 564 ; Reprint, 1875, 4. 



