SYLVICOLID^ — SYLVICOLIN^ ■ TRUE WAEBLERS. 309 



to which its luxurious nuptial song entitles it nut less than the Louisiana water thrush itself. 

 The bird spends much of its time on the ground, trailing prettily among the fallen leaves with 

 mincing steps. Nest on the ground, of leaves, grasses, etc. ; eggs 4-6, white or slightly 

 creamy, profusely speckled with reddish-brown and lilac, 0.85 X 0.65. 



136. 8. nse'vius. (Lat. msvius, spotted; ncevus, a mole, birth-mark.) Wag-tail Warbler. 

 Aquatic Accentor. New York Water Thrush. $ ? : Uniform dark olive-brown ; 

 wings and tail similar, unmarked : below, pale sulphury-yeUow, everywhere, except perhaps on 

 the middle of the belly, thickly speckled or streaked with dark olive-brown, the markings small- 

 est on the throat, largest on the sides. A long duU whitish superciliary line. BUI and feet dark. 

 Length 5.50-6.00 J extent 8.50-9.50 ; wing 2.75-3.00 ; tail 2.25; bill not over 0.. 50 along 

 the oulmen. The sexes do not differ appreciably. The shade of the upper parts varies from a 

 decidedly olivaceous-brown to a purer, darker bistre-brown, and that of the under parts from 

 sulphur-yeUow to nearly white ; but it is never of the buffy-white of 8. motacilla. The streak- 

 ing varies in amount and intensity, but has a sharp distinct character in comparison vrith S. 

 motacilla, and is rarely if ever absent from the throat. No bill over 0.50, and this member lacks 

 the peculiar shape, as well as size, characteristic of S. motacilla. The very young bird sooty- 

 blackish, each feather of the upper parts with terminal bar of ochraceous ; wing-coverts tipped 

 with the same, forming two bars ; streaks below as in the adult, but broader, and not so sharply 

 defined. N. Am. at large, breeding in most if not all of its range ; vnnters from the southern 

 border southward; a common inhabitant of thickets, swamps, and morasses, less frequently of 

 mixed woodland. Nest usually under a stump or log, of mosses, leaves, and grasses, lined with 

 rootlets; eggs 4-6, brilliant white, profusely speckled, 0.80 X 0.60. 



137. S. n. notatilis? (Lat. notabilis, noteworthy.) Wyoming Water Thrush. Described as 

 identical in coloration with the last, but larger; wing 3.25 ; tail 2.50 ; bill from nostril 0.50 ; 

 its depth at base 0.25 ; tarsus 0.83: middle toe without claw 0.56. Wyoming, one specimen: 

 very doubtful. 



138. S. motacil'la. (Lat. motacilla, a wag-taU. See p. 284.) Large-billed Wagtail Warbler. 

 Louisiana Water Thrush. Very similar to 8. nmvius; larger; length 6.00-6.25; extent 

 10.00-10.75 ; wing 3.00-3.25 ; bOl especially longer and stouter, over 0.50 ; tarsus nearly 1.00. 

 Under parts white, only faintly tinged, and chiefly on the flanks and crissum, with buff (not 

 sulphury-yellow) ; the streaks sparse, pale, and not very sharp ; throat, as well as belly and 

 crissum, unmarked; legs pale. I have yet to see a specimen I cannot distinguish on sight; 

 the size of the biU is by no means the only character, though it is a principal one. Eastern 

 U. S., rather southern, and not very common ; N. to Massachusetts regularly, sometimes to 

 Maine ; W. to Kansas, Indian Territory, and Texas ; more abundant in the Mississippi Valley; 

 breeds in its U. S. range at large ; winters extralimital. Habits, nest and eggs like those of 

 S. niBvius. A sweet and skilful songster. 



41. OPOROR'NIS. (G-r. cmapa, opora, autuum ; opvis, ornis, a bird: noting the abundance of 

 0. agilis in the tall.) Bush Warblers. Bill of ordinary Sylvicoline characters. Eictal 

 bristles short but evident. Wings pointed, much longer than tail ; 1st quiU nearly or quite 

 longest. Tail nearly even, with acute feathers ; wings and tail unmarked, like the back. , 

 Under tail-coverts long and copious. Tarsus about equal to middle toe and claw. Feet pale- 

 colored; back, wings, and tail olive; under parts yeUow; black or ashy on head. Sexes alike. 



Analysis qf Species. 



Head without black ; crown and tbroat ash; a whitlsheye-rlng agilis 139 



Head with black ; line over eye and under parts yellow . formosa 140 



139. O. a/giUs. (Lat. agilis, agUe, active.) Connecticut Warbler. Olive-green, becoming 

 ashy on the head; below, from the breast, yellow, olive-shaded on the sides ; chin, throat, and 

 breast dark ash ; a whitish ring round eye ; wings and tail unmarked, glossed with olive ; 

 under mandible and feet pale; no decided markings anywhere. Length about 5.50; extent 



