WATER THRUSH. 
15 
are also very pale; being nearly white. This species is found during the breeding season throughout Eastern United 
States, north to Hudson’s Bay. It winters in Southern Florida and the West Indies; many also pass into South 
America. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of seven specimens.— Length, 5-88; stretch, 9-33; wing, 2*91; tail, 2-02; bill, *52; 
tarsus, '78. Greatest length, 6T0; greatest extent of wings, 10-03; greatest length of wing, 3.10; of tail, 2-15; of 
bill -61; of tarsus, -86. Smallest length, 5-50; smallest stretch of wings, 8-60; smallest length of wing, 2-80; 
of tail, 1-90; of bill, -50; of tarsus, -80. 
DESCRIPTION OF NEST AND EGGS. 
Nest, composed of leaves, mosses, and fine grasses; lined with fine mosses and roots. Dimensions.— External 
diameter, 5-00 inches; internal, 3-50 inches. External depth, 3-00 inches; internal, 2-00 inches. 
Eggs, four or five in number, flesh colored, spotted throughout with light, reddish-brown. Dimensions, from 
-75x-60 to -83x-65. 
HABITS. 
The island of Key West is about six miles in length, and is of an irregular form ; being 
nearly divided in the middle by a deep cove which opens to the westward. A creek also makes 
in from the eastward, and forms an outlet to a large, shallow basin of water, which is called 
" The Salt Pond.” An artificial canal connects this sheet with the cove, so that the key is 
really separated into two islands. The city stands upon the southernmost one, which, owing 
to a rich deposit of soil, is covered , with a luxuriant growth of vegetation. The northern 
islet is entirely uninhabited, being somewhat barren ; even in the interior, one sees but few 
species of trees or shrubs, and these are dwarfed by the extreme heat which prevails at 
certain seasons, for the vegetable mould is thinly spread upon the coral that forms the 
foundation of all the Florida keys, but as we approach the western shore this scanty supply 
of vegetation vanishes and the surface of the rock is exposed. This limy formation is 
comparatively soft, and the action of the elements has worn it into jagged points; while the 
surface water, caused by rains, has formed numerous small channels, of a foot or eighteen 
inches in depth, through which it escapes into the sea. A few hardy plants grow along the 
borders of these little fissures, but all else is a rough plain of blackened rocks, until we come 
to the high-water line. Here grows one of the true products of the tropics,—the mangrove. 
One unaccustomed to the habits of these trees would be surprised to see them existing in so 
desolate a spot, especially where they are so constantly washed by the salt waves, yet they 
appear in a flourishing condition, and not only mark the line along the shore, but form many 
little verdant islands far out in the light green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Their manner 
of growth is singular; the roots are not only long, but flexible, and grasp any projection of 
the surface that presents itself, or thrust themselves into the crevices of the rocks when they 
come within their reach. But this support would be of little avail in enabling the tree 
to maintain an upright position during the heavy winds which often occur in this region. 
Nature, however, has provided powerful braces in the shape of aerial roots which are thrown 
out from various heights, and growing downward reach the rock and fasten themselves firmly. 
Shoots start up from these, which in their turn throw out others, and thus the whole forms 
a dense thicket with interlacing branches and root-stalks, through which it is extremely difficult 
to force a passage. 
The mangroves, which form the narrow edging along the western shore, were not high, yet 
they were chosen as an asylum by a large number of birds, and consequently I frequently visited 
them in search of the rarer species. While so engaged I observed some small birds running 
about among the roots, apparently searching for aquatic insects, which Were left by the tide, 
that flowed over the place at high water. They were extremely shy and it was only with great 
difficulty that I could obtain a shot at one, which when taken proved to be the common Water 
Thrush. Although I saw them occasionally on other parts of the key, among the mangroves, 
yet they were particularly abundant in this place, and I always found them there, even after 
