BIEDS OF NOETH ANI MIDDLE AMERICA. 



SEIURUS MOTACILLA (Vieillot). 

 LOinSIAlfA WATER THRUSH. 



639 



Adults {sexes alike).^ — A.bove plain grayish olive, slightly darker on 

 pileum; a conspicuous superciliary stripe of white, extending from 

 nostril to beyond end of auricular region; a triangular loral spot and 

 broad postocular stripe of dark grayish olive, the latter sometimes 

 involving greater part of the auricular region, the lower portion of 

 which, however, is always paler and more or less streaked with dull 

 whitish; a crescentic mai'k of white on lower eyelid; malar region 

 white, usually more or less flecked with grayish olive; under parts 

 white or huffy white, becoming pronouncedly buffy (usually clear pale 

 buff or cream buff) on flanks and under tail-coverts, all the under parts 

 of the body sometimes strongly tinged with buff; chin and throat 

 immaculate or with only a few minute flecks; chest, sides, and flanks 

 broadly streaked with grayish olive (similar to color of upper parts, 

 but somewhat darker), the streaks on anterior portion of chest smaller, 

 more distinctly triangular or wedge-shaped; axillars and under wing- 

 coverts brownish gray or hair brown; maxilla horn brownish basally, 

 becoming darker terminally; mandible similar in color to maxilla but 

 paler brownish basally; iris brown; legs and feet pale yellowish brown 

 in dried skins (pale flesh color in life). 



Young, first plumage. — Similar to adults, but upper parts more 

 sooty brown, the rump and upper tail-coverts sometimes tinged with 

 or inclining to more rusty brown; middle and greater wing-coverts nar- 

 rowly margined at tips with paler brown; streaks on under parts much 

 less distinct than in adults, decidedly paler in color than upper parts. 



Adult maZe.— Length (skins), 127-139.7 (133.8); wing, 75.7-84.3 

 (80.8); tail, 49.5-55.4 (51.8); exposed culmen, 12.-1-13.5 (13.2); tarsus, 

 21.6-22.9 (22.3); middle toe, 14^15.2 (14.2).' 



Admit feinale.—Length (skins), 129.5-142.2 (135.1); wing, 75.9-81 

 (78.7); tail, 49.5-52.6 (50.8); exposed culmen, 12.9-14.2 (13.5); tarsus, 

 21.6-23.4 (22.9); middle toe, 14-15 (14.5).'' 



' After careful examination of a large series of specimens, I can not find that there 

 is any difference in plumage according to season, some birds taken in April and May 

 being quite as strongly colored as any autumnal or winter specimens. 



'Eleven specimens. 



'l*'ive specimens. 



Specimens from the Atlantic coast district and those from the Mississippi Valley 

 average, respectively, as follows: 



