666 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. IX. 



327. Seiurus noveboracensis (Gmel.). 

 Water-thrush.* 



Distr.: Eastern North America, west to Illinois and north to 

 Hudson Bay and Ungava; breeds from the northern United States 

 northward; winters in the West Indies, Central America, and north- 

 ern South America. 



Adult: Upper parts, including wings and tail, uniform olive brown ; 

 no white on wings or tail and no wing bars ; a buffy white superciliary 



line; throat and under parts, pale sul- 

 phur yellow, heavily streaked with 

 blackish, except on the middle of the 

 belly; chin and upper throat speckled. 

 Sexes similar. 



Length, 5.70; wing, 2.95; tail, 2.10; 

 bill, about .50. 



The Mississippi Valley region seems 

 to be the dividing line between the 

 eastern and western forms of this 

 species, and as would be expected, a large number of intermediates 

 occur in Illinois and Wisconsin, in fact, typical examples of S. nove- 

 boracensis are by no means common. The Field Museum possesses a 

 well marked specimen of this species (No. 5104) taken by Mr. H. K. 

 Coale at Grand Crossing, 111., May 2, 1887. It occurs as a migrant 

 in southern Illinois, and Ridgway gives it as sometimes common in 

 the latter half of August at Mt. Carmel, 111. (Orn. of 111., 1889, p. 

 162.) 



Mr. E. W. Nelson (Birds of N. E. Illinois, 1876, p. 100) says: "An 

 abundant migrant, April i to May 10 and August 25 to October 25. 

 Found everjnvhere in damp woods or along the banks of streams 

 during the migrations. A few remain to breed in secluded woods." 



In Wisconsin Messrs. Kumlien and Hollister consider this species 

 to be more common than its western race (S. n. notabilis) and state 

 that: "It breeds sparingly in the southern counties and more com- 

 monly and regularly farther north." (Birds of Wisconsin, 1903, 

 p. 116.) 



The nest is hidden in a mossy bank or on ground in swampy 

 places. The eggs are 4 or 5, white or cream white, marked with 

 brown chiefly at the larger end, and measure about .75 x. 58 inches. 



* Although called Water-thrush from long usage, the name is unfortunate as likely to be 

 moi-e or less misleading to the student. 1 he name Wag-tail Warblers as used by Dr. Coues would 

 seem more appropriate for these birds. 



