SMALL-BILLED WATER THRUSH.

Motacilla noveboracensis, Gmelin, S. N. I, 1788, 958. Sylvia nov. Lath.; Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, pl. lxxxii. Seiurus nov. Nutt.; Bon.; Aud. Birds Am. III, pl. cxcix.—Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 261, pl. lxxx, fig. 1; Rev. 215.—Max. Cab. Jour. 1858, 121.—Dall & Bannister (Alaska).—Samuels, 220. Henicocichla nov. Cab. Schom. Guiana, III, 666; Jour. 1860, 324 (Costa Rica).—Sclater (Tobago).—Gundlach, Cab. Jour. 1861, 326 (Cuba). Mniotilta nov. Gray. ?? Motacilla fuscescens, Gmelin, S. N. 984 (based on Ficedula jamaicensis, Brisson, III, 512, Jamaica). Turdus aquaticus, Wils.; Aud. Orn. Biog. 1839, 284, pl. ccccxxxiii. Sylvia anthoides, Vieillot, Nouv. Dict. XI, 1817, 208. Seiurus tenuirostris, Sw. 1827; Gamb. Seiurus

sulfurascens, D’Orbigny, Sagra’s Cuba, 1840, 57, pl. vi. Seiurus gosse, Bon. Consp. 1850, 306 (Jamaica). ? Anthus l’herminieri, Less. Rev. Z. 1839, 101 (Colombia).

Other localities quoted: Xalapa, Sclater. Guatemala, Sclater & Salvin. Panama, Lawrence. Carthagena, Cassin. Santa Cruz (winter), Newton. Cuba, Cab. Jamaica, Gosse.; Scl. Venezuela, Scl. & Salv. Yucatan, Lawr. St. Bartholemy, Sund. Veragua, Salv.

Sp. Char. Bill, from rictus, about the length of the skull. Above olive-brown, with a shade of green; beneath pale sulphur-yellow, brightest on the abdomen. Region about the base of the lower mandible, and a superciliary line from the base of the bill to the nape, brownish-yellow. A dusky line from the bill through the eye; chin and throat finely spotted. All the remaining under parts and sides of the body, except the abdomen, and including the under tail-coverts, conspicuously and thickly streaked with olivaceous-brown, almost black on the breast. Length, 6.15; wing, 3.12; tail, 2.40. Bill, from rictus, .64. Sexes similar.

Hab. Eastern Province of North America, north to Arctic Ocean and Yukon (westward along northern border of United States to Cascade Mountains); Fort Bridger, (Drexler); Arizona (Coues); whole West Indies; Southeastern Mexico; all Central America; Panama and Eastern South America (Bogota; Carthagena; Brazil).

A very young bird (22,619, Fort Simpson, August 10) is very different from the adult in coloration. The upper parts are fuliginous-black, each feather with a broad terminal bar of pale ochraceous, wing-coverts tipped with the same, forming two distinct bands; streaks below as in the adult, but broader and less sharply defined.

Habits. This species has a general distribution, at certain seasons, throughout the whole of eastern North America as far to the north as the Arctic Ocean. North of the United States it is also found on the Pacific coast as far south as the Cascade Mountains. In the winter it is quite common in all the West India Islands, in Southeastern Mexico, Central America, Panama, and the eastern part of South America to Brazil. From about latitude 43° northward it breeds throughout all North America. Sir John Richardson met with it at the Carlton House, where it was found frequenting the moist and thickly wooded banks of the river. These birds made their first appearance in May, and the greater portion soon after disappeared, as if proceeding still farther north to breed.

Among other memoranda given me by the late Mr. Kennicott was one furnished him by Mr. Lockhart, to the effect that, at Yukon River, June 21, 1859, he had shot a female Water Thrush as she flew from her nest. This contained five eggs, and was concealed under a small pile of drift, close to the river, but under large willow-trees. This was not lined with down. At the same locality another nest with six eggs was also obtained. This also was on the ground at the foot of some willows near the water. It was made of moss, and lined with very fine grass.

All that has been given by our earlier authors as to the habits of this species must be received with more or less uncertainty. The difference between this bird and that known as the Louisiana Thrush has not been sufficiently clear to these writers to enable us always to determine which of the