126 
SYLVIA VIRENS. 
that it breeds in the higher mountainous districts even 
of this state, as do many other of our spring visitants 
that regularly pass a week or two with us in the 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 distinguished by the loudness, sweet- 
ness, 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 just 
described ; and except in frequenting the water, much 
resembling it in manners. Male and female nearly 
alike. 
98 . SYLVIA VIRENS , LATHAM AND WILSON. 
' 
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER. 
WILSON, PLATE XVII. FIG. III. 
This is one of those transient visitors that pass ; 
through Pennsylvania, in the latter part of April and j 
