LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH. 247 
rounded, cup-shaped hollow, measuring 2.50 inches in diameter by 2.50 inches in depth. 
This inner nest is composed of small twigs and green mosses, with a lining of dry 
grasses and a few hairs of squirrels or other mammals arranged circularly. The eggs 
found in this nest are of a rounded-oval shape and possess a high polish. Their ground- 
color is white with a fleshy tint. About the greater ends are numerous large but 
exceedingly regular blotches of dark umber with fainter sub-markings of pale lavender, 
while over the remainder of their surface are thickly sprinkled dottings of reddish-brown. 
But slight variation of marking occurs, and that mainly with regard to the relative 
size of the blotches upon the greater ends. 
“The second nest was found May 8, on the opposite side of the same pond, in a 
precisely similar situation. Attention was first called to its proximity by the presence 
of the old birds, which were sitting on a mossy log a few yards off, the male pouring 
forth an almost uninterrupted strain of gushing melody to his mate. Enlightened by 
previous experience, the writer went directly to the only fallen tree in the vicinity, and 
almost at the first glance among the earth-laden roots looked in upon the eggs. This 
nest was very prettily sheltered from the rains, and concealed from prying eyes above, 
by a large white fungus, about the size and very nearly the shape of a shingle, which 
projected directly over it from the wall of earth behind, barely leaving sufficient space 
beneath to admit the passage of the bird. In general character this nest is nearly 
identical in every respect with the one alreadyedescribed. It has the same rounded outer 
wall of closely impacted dead leaves, with, however, an admixture of dry mosses, cypress 
twigs, and strips of bark. In shape it is nearly square, measuring externally 6.50 inches 
in diameter by 3.54 inches in depth. The inner nest measures 2.73 inches in diameter 
by 2.50 inches in depth, and is lined with dry grasses, leaf-stems, and a few white hairs. 
The eggs were four in number and perfectly fresh; probably more would have been laid 
had the nest been left undisturbed. They agree closely in shape with those of the first 
set, and have an equally high polish, but are somewhat more heavily and handsomely 
marked. The color is creamy-white with heavy blotches of umber-brown generally 
distributed, but occurring most thickly at the greater ends; fine dottings of lighter 
brown, and a few spots of pale lavender, fill in the intermediate spaces. 
“On May 12, a third nest, containing five young birds, well feathered and nearly 
able to fly, was found by my friend Mr. R. Ridgway,-on the shore of an isolated little 
woodland pond. The site, in this instance, was at the foot of a huge stump, the nest 
being placed in a cavity in the rotten wood. Still another nest was found by the 
writer, April 29, under the bank of White River, among the earth and roots, and well 
sheltered by the projection of the bank above. In general construction, as well as 
situation, this nest was so nearly identical with those already spoken of that any 
further description would be superfluous.”’ 
Near creeks and rivers in south-western Missouri this bird is quite a common 
summer sojourner, though I never succeeded in finding its nest. During the early 
morning hours in May and June I often heard the exquisite song of this bird. As if to 
delight the early rambler the Cardinal Grosbeak sounds its cheery notes near by, while 
Maryland Yellow-throats, Kentucky Warblers, and other small songsters combine in a 
chorus of exceeding charm. In such localities the Water Thrush sets its music-box going 
