NORTH AMERICAN BIRDH. 449 



Atlantic coast. Winters from the southern border of the United States southward 

 to Lower California, Mexico and Northern South America. 



This bird is like the last species in coloration, but it is larger and its general 

 habits are identical. A set of four eggs of this bird are in the collection of Mr. James 

 B. Forniff, of St. Louis. They were taken near Denver, Colorado June 15, 1897. The 

 nest was placed in the exposed roots of a. tree growing on the bank of a small stream. 

 The eggs are the same in color as those of S.- novehoracensis and measure as follows: 

 .75X.55, .78X.66, .74x.59, .76x.59 inches. The well-known oologist, Mr. Wm. L. Kells, 

 of Listowel, Ontario, states that the nesting period of Grinnell's Water-Thrush in 

 that region is from the middle of May to that of July. He found the nests more fre- 

 quently in the under side of an up-turned root over a pool of water and states that the 

 usual set of eggs is more frequently four than five eggs. 



676. LOUISIANA WATER-THRUSH. Seiurus motacilla (VieillO Geog. 

 Dist— 'Eastern United States, north to the Great Lakes and Southern New England, 

 west to the plains. In winter. Gulf States, West Indies, Eastern Mexico and Middle 

 America. 



The Large-billed Water-Thrush or large-billed Wag-tail Warbler breeds more 

 or less commonly in suitable places throughout its United States range south of about 

 latitude 42°. It is found during the summer months as far west as Kansas, where 

 Colonel Goss notes it as a common summer resident, and begins laying about the 8th 

 of May. It is rare in Nebraska, and a few remain to breed in Iowa, but it does not 

 appear to occur in Minnesota. It is a common summer resident in Ohio, but of ir- 

 regular distribution. Mr. William Brewster found this species breeding in Knox- 

 county, Indiana, and gives an excellent account of its nest and eggs.* Hon. J. N. 

 Clark met with it breeding quite commonly in Middlesex county, Connecticut, where 

 he took complete sets of eggs as early as May 7.t In the northwestern portion of 

 North Carolina (Iredell county), Mr. R. B. McLaughlin took eggs of this species in 

 April and May. The nest, according to all observers, is built and carefully hidden 

 in the cavities among the roots of fallen trees, old logs, stumps, or mossy banks — 

 always in swampy places. They are usually bulky, and made of partially decayed 

 leaves, which the female extracts from the bog with mud adhering to them. These 

 arl' laid together, and when dry make a solid and compact structure. The inner nest 

 is formed of grape-grass, and sometimes hair. The great similarity of the materials 

 in the nest to the external surroundings makes it difl3cult to detect. Mr. McLaughlin 

 says that this bird in North Carolina prefers the smaller streams as breeding places — 

 nesting in the exposed roots of trees along the banks. The, eggs are four or five, 

 sometimes six in number, the usual number being five. The ground color of the 

 eggs varies from a pure white to a. deep creamy- white, thickly speckled with cinna- 

 mon-rufous or chestnut (more heavily near the larger ends) and lilac-gray. Some 

 specimens have very bold spots of chestnut, and the specks are entirely wanting. 

 Mr. Bretrster gives the size of six eggs as follows: .75x.63, .78x.64, .75x.63, .76x.62, 

 .76X.62, .75X.61. 



677. KEHTTTCKY WARBLER. Oeothlypis formoaa (Wils.) Geog. Dist.— 

 Eastern United States, chiefly west of the Alleghanies to the Plains, north to the 

 Great Lakes and Southern New England; in winter, south through Eastern Mexico 

 and Central America to Panama; Cuba. 



• Bull. Nutt. Ornlth. Club, III, pp. 133-135. 



t For Mr. Clark's extended account, see Ornithologist and Oologist, VII, pp. 145-147. 



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