BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



443 



along Lake Keuka, as well as those in the valley north of Branchport, 



the Louisiana water thrush finds an ideal summer haunt, as wild and weird 



as its ringing, melodious song that is uttered in a most ecstatic manner. 



They arrive in this locality as early as April lo, usually close to April 15, 



and I have noted a single individual as late as October 2, but by September 



25 they are usually gone. 



In a small hemlock-clad 



ravine but one pair will 



be found, while in the 



greater gullies that ex- 

 tend from the valley back 



into the hills two miles 



or more as many as three 



or four pairs will make 



their summer home. 



They also occur in Potter 



swamp, Yates county, in 



limited pairs where they 

 hide their nest the same 

 as the Northern water 

 thrush at the base of 

 trees, stumps and logs. 

 In the gullies, however, 

 they select all sorts of 

 cavities, always within 

 12 feet above the rocky 

 bottom over swift flowing 

 water or some deep pool. Of over 75 nests examined, probably nine- 

 tenths were within 4 feet of the bottom of the gully. A favorite nest 

 site is under a dirt, shale or mossy ledge, behind dangling rootlets. 

 Sometimes an excavation is made in the mossy bed on nearly perpen- 

 dicular banks, in cavities at the base of small trees, in barren slate 



Photo by Clarence F. Stone 

 Louisiana water thrush '3 nest and eggs 



