The Louisiana Water-Thrush 



outside the house, was frequently sighted in the general vicinity of the 

 keepers' quarters during the remaining five days of our stay. 



No. 96 



Louisiana Water-Thrush 



A. O. U. No. 676. Seiurus motacilla (Vieillot). 



Description. — Adult (sexes alike) : Above dark olive-brown, darker on crown, 

 more olivaceous on upper tail-coverts; a dark stripe through eye of color of back; a 

 whitish superciliary line extended to cervix; a malar stripe of white, and a submaxillary 

 stripe of olive-brown; underparts white shading to color of back, on sides changing to 

 pale dull buffy posteriorly, sharply spotted on breast and sides with color of back. 

 Bill dark horn-color above, lighter below; feet light (flesh-colored in life?). Fall birds 

 are of fresher appearance, darker, less olivaceous (chaetura drab) above. Length 146. 1- 

 162.6 (5.75-6.40); wing 81 (3-19); tail 52 (2.05); bill 13.2 (.52); tarsus 13.5 (.53). 



Recognition Marks. — Small sparrow size; thrush-like pattern of plumage; 

 white superciliary distinctive, as compared with S. aurocapillus or 5. noveboracensis 

 notabilis; throat unspotted, as distinguished from S. n. notabilis; larger. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: On mossy bank or among 

 roots of upturned tree; of sodden leaves and twigs; lined with fine grasses and rootlets. 

 Eggs: 4 to 6, 7 of record; white, sprinkled and spotted, lightly or heavily, uniformly, or, 

 more rarely, in wreath or cloud-cap, with reddish brown (vinaceous russet to natal 

 brown) and vinaceous gray. Av. size, 19.3 x 15.8 (.76 x .62). 



General Range. — "Eastern United States to South America. Breeds mainly 

 in Carolinian zone, from southeastern Nebraska, southeastern Minnesota, and the 

 southern parts of Michigan, Ontario, New York, and New England south to north- 

 eastern Texas, northern Georgia, and central South Carolina; winters from northern 

 Mexico to Colombia, and Greater Antilles, Antigua, and the Bahamas; accidental in 

 California" (A. O. U. Check-List, 3rd Ed.). 



Occurrence in California. — Accidental, one record: Mecca, Aug. 17, 1908, by 

 Loye Holmes Miller. 



Authority. — Miller, Condor, vol. x., 1908, p. 236. 



THE CIRCLIMSTANCES attending the capture of a unique speci- 

 men of this species, at Mecca near Salton Sea, hint strongly at an artificial 

 agency of transportation. Mr. Miller had first noted the bird on August 

 17th (1908), as it hopped about the trucks and platforms of tank cars 

 on the railroad siding; and it flushed repeatedly without quitting the 

 little oasis caused by the overflow of the railroad water-tank. He 

 shot it the same day from one of the timbers of the tank. On the whole 

 it would appear that the restless little Water-Thrush, one of a great 

 company, migratory through eastern Texas, had become entrapped in 

 a freight car of the Southern Pacific system. Or it might have flitted 



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