LARGE-BILLED WATER THRUSH. 289 
Motacilla nevia, BoppaRT, Tab. P!. El., 1783, 47. 
Motacilla noveboracensis, GMKLIN, Syst. Nat., i, 1788, 958. 
Sylvia noveboracensis, LATHAM, Ind. Orn., 1790, ae 
Turdus (Seiurus) noveboracensis, NUTTALL, Man, 1, 1832, ; 
Seiurus noveboracensis, BONAPARTE, aoe and Comp. eo ie 21. 
Siurus noveboracensis, SCLATER and SALVIN, Ibis, 1, 1859, 10. 
Siurus nevius Couns, Bull. Nutt. Club, ii, 1877, 32. 
Entire upper parts deep olivaceons brown; conspicuous saperciliary line yellowish ; 
below white more or jess tinged with pale yellowish, thickly and sharply spotted with the 
color of the back, except on lower belly and crissu:i; feet dark lLeugth 54-6; wing 
22; tail 24; dill about 4 
Habitat, North America at large. Mexico, West Indies, Central, and much of South 
America. 
Common spring and fall migrant. Arrives during the last week in 
April, and remains about a month. Returns in August and remains 
until October. 
This and the following species have been confounded by the older 
ornithologists, and in consequence the earlier Ohio accounts of each of 
these birds is unsatisfactory. I have no authentic information of the 
breeding of this species in the State, and there is a discrepancy in the 
statements of the latest authorities as to its breeding range. 
In this vicinity it is usually a solitary bird, migrating along the banks 
of streams, in swampy woods and open wet places. I have seen them in 
plowed fields on the edges of swamp thickets, and in one instance in 
my garden. I have never heard the fine song which the bird is said to 
have. Its ordinary note is a sharp chirp and when suddenly disturted 
it flies from the ground to the lower branches of a tree or to a fence, 
uttering a sharp note not unlike the cry of the Solitary Sandpiper, with 
which it frequently associates. Their habits are much those of the 
Sandpipers, walking in the shallow water and running upon log:, wag- 
ging their tails constantly. This species appears to be the most terres- 
trial and aquatic of the genus. The nest, in location and construction, 
resembles that of the Golden-crowned Thrush. The eggs are oblong oval, 
measuring from .81 to 87 by .65 to 69. They are clear crystal mite in 
color, with lines, dots and blotches of umber-brown. : 
SIURUS MOTACILLA (V.) Cs. 
Marge-billed Water Thrush. 
‘ 
Sylvia noveboracensis, KIRTLAND, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838 163, 181 (in part.) 
Turdus noveboracensis, READ, Fam. Visitor, ili, 1853, 399 (in part); Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., 
Phila., vi, 1853, 395 (an part.) 
Seiurus ludovicianus, WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 363, 374; Reprint, 1861, 5, 16; 
Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 564; Reprint, 1875, 4. 
