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AQUATIC WOOD- WAGTAIL (LOUISIANA WATER 



THRUSH). 



"^Seiurus nov-eboracensis, Gmel. 

 PLATE CXLIX.— Male. 



Much and justly as the song of the Nightingale is admired, I am inclined, 

 after having often listened to it, to pronounce it in no degree superior to 

 that of the Louisiana Water Thrush. The notes of the latter bird are as 

 powerful and mellow, and at times as varied. 



This bird is a resident of the low lands of the States of Louisiana and 

 Mississippi, and is to be found at all seasons in the deepest and most swampy 

 of our cane-brakes, from which its melodies are heard to a considerable 

 distance, its voice being nearly as loud as that of the Wood Thrush. The 

 bird may be observed perched on a low bough scarcely higher than the tops 

 of the canes, in an erect attitude, swelling its throat, and repeating several 

 times in succession sounds so approaching two octaves of a good piano-forte, 

 as almost to induce the hearer to imagine that the keys of that instrument 

 are used on the occasion. The bird begins on the upper key, and progres- 

 sively passes from one to another, until it reaches the base note, this last 

 frequently being lost when there is the least agitation in the air. Its song is 

 heard even in the winter, when the weather is calm and warm. 



The flight of this bird is easy, and continued amongst the trees, just above 

 the canes, or closer over the ground, when it is passing along their skirts, 

 gliding smoothly through the air. When alighted, its body is continually 

 vibrating, the tail being at the same time alternately jerked out and closed 

 again. It walks prettily along the branches, or on the ground, but never 

 hops. It feeds on insects and larvae, often pursuing the former on wing, as 

 well as on the ground, yet in seizing them it does not produce the clicking 

 sound heard from the bill of Flycatchers. 



The nest of this species is commenced in the first days of April. It is 

 placed at the foot and amongst the roots of a tree, or by the side of a 

 decayed log, and is so easily discovered at times that my eyes have once or 

 twice been attracted by it, whilst walking about in search of something else. 

 The outer parts are formed of dry leaves and mosses, the inner of fine 

 grasses, with a few hairs, or the dried fibres of the Spanish moss, which so 

 much resemble horse-hair as scarcely to be distinguished from it. The 



Vol. III. 6 



