^ 5 * 
&-~2f€** — -/ /3-*U^c c^S-^c . 
/3*^-J-3 <i* , 
Sitirus ncevius . — In the "Birds of the Colorado Valley ” (p. 301) Dr. 
Coues asserted that the Northern Water Thrush “ breeds in the greater 
part if not the whole of its North American range,” and in the present 
work this view is substantially reiterated in the following terms: “Being 
a species of the widest distribution in North America, the Water Thrush 
is found in all suitable situations in New England, where it is a summer 
resident, and more or less abundant according to circumstances in no way 
connected with geographical or faunal areas.” Waiving for the present 
any discussion of the question at large, we will confine ourselves to a 
consideration of the character of the bird’s presence in New England. 
Upon examining the records it appears that no identified nest has ever 
been found south of the limits of the Canadian Fauna. In the “Catalogue 
of the Birds of Springfield” Mr. Allen stated that “apparently a few 
breed here,” but as he has reversed this opinion in his later “ List of the 
Birds of Massachusetts,” the presumption is that there was some mistake 
about the earlier observations. Mr. Merriam surmises that “ possibly 
a few occasionally remain and breed in Connecticut.” All the other authors 
(save Minot, whose testimony on questions of this kind is inadmissible) 
agree in considering the Water Thrush as a spring and fall migrant in 
the three southern New England States. Going by the records alone, 
Dr. Coues will find it difficult to maintain his position, while if the un- 
written testimonj' on the subject were produced we fancy that it would go 
very strongly against his view of the case. Certainly there are no present 
grounds for believing that the Northern Water Thrush breeds at all in 
New England south of the Canadian Fauna. 
Bull. N.0,0. <3, Oct, 1881, p, J 3 f • 
