WATER THRUSH. 357 
lower parts, and then retire to the mountains and inland 
forests to breed. 
But Pennsylvania is not the favourite resort of this species. 
The cane brakes, swamps, river shores, and deep watery 
solitudes of Louisiana, Tennesee, and the Mississippi territory, 
possess them in abundance ; there they are eminently dis- 
tinguished by the loudness, sweetness, and expressive vivacity 
of their notes, which begin very high and clear, falling with 
an almost imperceptible gradation till they are scarcely 
articulated. At these times the musician is perched on the 
middle branches of a tree over the brook or river bank, pouring 
out his charming melody, that may be distinctly heard for 
nearly half a mile. The voice of this little bird appeared to 
me so exquisitely sweet and expressive, that I was never 
tired of listening to it, while traversing the deep shaded 
hollows of those cane brakes where it usually resorts. I have 
never yet met with its nest. 
The Water Thrush is six inches long, and nine and a half 
in extent ; the whole upper parts are of a uniform and very 
dark olive, with a line of white extending over the eye, and 
along the sides of the neck ; the lower parts are white, tinged 
with yellow ochre ; the whole breast and sides are marked 
with pointed spots or streaks of black or deep brown ; bill, 
dusky brown; legs, flesh coloured," tail, nearly even; bill, 
formed almost exactly like the Golden-crowned Thrush, above 
described, p. 239 ; and, except in frequenting the water,, 
much resembling it in manners.. Male and female nearly 
alike. 
