38 AQJJATIC WOOD-WAGTAIL (LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH). 



female lays four or five eggs, and takes fourteen days to hatch them. When 

 disturbed on her nest at an early period of incubation, she merely flies off; 

 but if discovered towards the conclusion of that period, she is seen tumbling 

 and rolling about, spreading her wings and tail, as if in the last agonies of 

 despair, uttering all the while a most piteous tone, to entice the intruder to 

 follow her. 



The young leave the nest in about ten days, and follow the parent from 

 place to place, on the ground, where they are fed until able to fly. I have 

 not been able to ascertain whether this bird rears more than one brood in a 

 season, but am inclined to believe that it does not. The eggs are flesh- 

 coloured, sprinkled with darker red on the large end. 



During winter, it becomes so plump as to be a pure mass of fat, and 

 furnishes extremely delicate eating. I have never seen this species farther 

 eastward than Georgia, nor higher on the Ohio than the cane-brakes about 

 Henderson. 



Dr. Richardson states that this species was seen "at Carlton House, 

 where it frequented the moist and thickly wooded points of the river. It 

 arrived in May, and disappeared after a few days, probably going farther 

 north to breed." Mr. Townsend informs me that it is common in the 

 districts adjoining the Columbia river, but does not say whether it breeds 

 there or not, although he states that it breeds on the Missouri. During my 

 late journey to the Texas, 1113'' friend Edward Harris and my son John 

 Woodhouse procured a good number of these birds in the months of April 

 and May. They were then migrating along the shores and islands of the 

 Gulf of Mexico. 



In winter resident from Texas to Florida, including Louisiana. In summer 

 migrates as far as the Fur Countries. Not abundant. 



Water Thrush, Tardus aquaticus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 66. 



Sylvia novjeboracensis, Bonap. Syn., p. 77. 



Seicrds aquaticus, Aquatic Accentor, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 229. 



New York or Aquatic Thrush. Tardus novaboracensis, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 353. 



Louisiana Water Thrush, Tardus ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 99. 



Common Water Thrush, Tardus aquaticus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 284. 



Adult Male. 



Bill of ordinary length, straight, slender, tapering to a point, broadish at 

 the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the edges sharp, 

 and destitute of a notch. Nostrils basal, rounded, half closed by a membrane. 

 Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus a little longer than the middle 

 toe; toes free; claws slender, much compressed, arched, acute, the hind one 

 not much larger than that of the middle toe. 



