LAND BIRDS. 633 
at the edge of a cut, where a stream has washed away the soil at a bend, 
In other cases it nests on the ground in an ordinary swamp, placing the 
nest under the roots of a tree or otherwise hiding it from view. Mr. 
Trombley records a nest found in Summerfield township, Monroe county, 
which was nearly complete on May 8, 1891 and which contained six eges 
with two Cowbirds’ eggs in addition on May 19. This nest was placed 
beneath the roots of a tree which had been blown over, and was close 
to the edge of a creek. Another nest in the same vicinity was found with 
fresh eges on May 5, 1890. Mr. Taverner records a nest found near Flint, 
Genesee county, May 30, 1905, and T. L. Hankinson found a nest with 
young June 2, 1895, in Ingham county. 
The eggs are similar to those of the other Water-thrushes, creamy white, 
spotted with brown and lilac, the size, number and disposition of the 
markings being somewhat variable, but the eges usually distinguishable 
from those of the Oven-bird, which they nevertheless resemble. They 
average .73 by .59 inches. 
Much has been written about the song of this bird and it is difficult 
to exaggerate its power and beauty; nevertheless there is undoubtedly 
much individual variation. Mr. Chapman writes: ‘As a songster the 
Water-thrush is without a rival. His song is not to be compared with the 
clear-voiced carol of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, the plaintive chant of 
the Field Sparrow, or the hymnlike melody of the true thrushes; it is of 
a different kind. It is the untameable spirit of the bird rendered in music. 
There is an almost fierce wildness in its ringing notes” (Handbook, p. 368). 
In general habits all the water-thrushes are much alike. They spend 
most of the time on the ground in wet places and are most often seen 
running nimbly about the edges of pools, balancing for an instant on a 
stick or pebble, or walking deliberately along a slender branch or root, 
now disappearing in the dark cavity beneath a stump or log and again 
wading a few steps into the water to pick up some tempting morsel of 
aquatic life. All the time the body is swaying up and down with the 
characteristic wagging motion which suggests the sandpiper. During 
migration water-thrushes are often found about the edges of muddy pools 
in open fields ‘and pastures, even associating with sandpipers and plover, 
but ordinarily they prefer water fringed with willows or other bushes, 
and during the nesting season are seldom seen in the open. The food 
consists mainly of aquatic insect larvee, but insects and spiders of various 
kinds are eaten, as well as worms, crustaceans, snails and other mollusks, 
and to a lesser extent various seeds and small fruits. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult: Very similar to the Small-billed Water-thrush, but upper parts lighter olive- 
brown; the line over the eye pure white, the under parts always distinetly buffy or brownish 
white rather than yellowish-white, and the spots and streaks broader and lighter colored 
(never darker) than the color of the upper parts; the buffy color most pronounced on the 
flanks, belly and under tail-coverts; chin and throat nearly white and often without any 
spots. Sexes alike. : 
Length 5.75 to 6.40 inches; wing 3 to 3.25; tail 2.10 to 2.30; culmen .50 to .56. 
290. Kentucky Warbler. Oporornis formosus (l"i/s.). (677) 
Synonyms: Sylvia formosa, Wils., 1811.—Myiodioctes formosus, Aud., 1839,— 
Geothlypis formosa, A. O. U. Check-list, 1886, and most subsequent authors. 
The olive green back and bright yellow under parts, coupled with the 
black bar on the side of the head and neck and the yellow stripe over and 
