Ô¼ÅÚÊÓƵ

Much and justly as the song of the Nightingale is admired, I am inclined, after having often listened to it, to pronounce it in no degree superior to that of the Louisiana Water Thrush. The notes of the latter bird are as powerful and mellow, and at times as varied. 

This bird is a resident of the low lands of the States of Louisiana and Mississippi, and is to be found at all seasons in the deepest and most swampy of our cane-brakes, from which its melodies are heard to a considerable distance, its voice being nearly as loud as that of the Wood Thrush. The bird may be observed perched on a low bough scarcely higher than the tops of the canes, in an erect attitude, swelling its throat, and repeating several times in succession sounds so approaching two octaves of a good piano-forte, as almost to induce the hearer to imagine that the keys of that instrument are used on the occasion. The bird begins on the upper key, and progressively passes from one to another, until it reaches the base note, this last frequently being lost when there is the least agitation in the air. Its song is heard even in the winter, when the weather is calm and warm. 

The flight of this bird is easy, and continued amongst the trees, just above the canes, or closer over the ground, when it is passing along their skirts, gliding smoothly through the air. When alighted, its body is continually vibrating, the tail being at the same time alternately jerked out and closed again. It walks prettily along the branches, or on the ground, but never hops. It feeds on insects and larvae, often pursuing the former on wing, as well as on the ground, yet in seizing them it does not produce the clicking sound heard from the bill of Flycatchers. 

The nest of this species is commenced in the first days of April. It is placed at the foot and amongst the roots of a tree, or by the side of a decayed log, and is so easily discovered at times that my eyes have once or twice been attracted by it, whilst walking about in search of something else. The outer parts are formed of dry leaves and mosses, the inner of fine grasses, with a few hairs, or the dried fibres of the Spanish moss, which so much resemble horse-hair as scarcely to be distinguished from it. The female lays four or five eggs, and takes fourteen days to hatch them. When disturbed on her nest at an early period of incubation, she merely flies off; but if discovered towards the conclusion of that period, she is seen tumbling and rolling about, spreading her wings and tail, as if in the last agonies of despair, uttering all the while a most piteous tone, to entice the intruder to follow her. 

The young leave the nest in about ten days, and follow the parent from, place to place, on the ground, where they are fed until able to fly. I have not been able to ascertain whether this bird rears more than one brood in a season, but am inclined to believe that it does not. The eggs are flesh-coloured, sprinkled with darker red on the large end. 

During winter, it becomes so plump as to be a pure mass of fat, and furnishes extremely delicate eating. I have never seen this species farther eastward than Georgia, nor higher on the Ohio than the cane-brakes about Henderson. 

Dr. RICHARDSON states that this species was seen "at Carlton House, where it frequented the moist and thickly wooded points of the river. It arrived in May, and disappeared after a few days, probably going farther north to breed." Mr. TOWNSEND informs me that it is common in the districts adjoining the Columbia river, but does not say whether it breeds there or not, although he states that it breeds on the Missouri. During my late journey to the Texas, my friend EDWARD HARRIS and my son JOHN WOODHOUSE procured a good number of these birds in the months of April and May. They were then migrating along the shores and islands of the Gulf of Mexico. 

In winter resident from Texas to Florida, including Louisiana. In summer migrates as far as the Fur Countries. Not abundant. 

WATER THRUSH, Turdus aquaticus, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 66. 
SYLVIA NOVAEBORACENSIS, Bonap. Syn., p. 77. 
SEIURUS AQUATICUS, Aquatic Accentor, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer.,vol. ii. p. 229. 
NEW YORK or AQUATIC THRUSH, Turdus novaeboracensis, Nutt. Man., vol. i.p. 353. 
LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH, Turdus ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i.p. 99. 
COMMON WATER THRUSH, Turdus aquaticus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 284. 


Adult Male. 

Bill of ordinary length, straight, slender, tapering to a point, broadish at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the edges sharp, and destitute of a notch. Nostrils basal, rounded, half closed by a membrane. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus a little longer than the middle toe; toes free; claws slender, much compressed, arched, acute, the hind one not much larger than that of the middle toe. 

Plumage ordinary, soft, slightly glossy; a few bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings of ordinary length; first quill longest. Tail shortish, a little notched, the feathers rather obtuse. Bill deep brown above, black at the tip, flesh-coloured beneath. Iris deep brown. Feet and claws brown, tinged with blue. The general colour of the upper parts is dull greenish-brown, that of the under parts yellowish-white. A streak of the latter colour over the eye, from the base of the upper mandible, and another from the base of the lower, curving upwards behind the ear-coverts. Fore-neck and breast marked with sagittiform spots of blackish-brown; sides under the wings streaked with the same colour. 

Length 5 3/4 inches, extent of wings 9 1/2; bill along the ridge 1/2, along the gap 3/4; tarsus 3/4. 

The female, as has been said, hardly differs from the male in appearance. 


THE INDIAN TURNIP. 

ARUM TRIPHYLLUM, Willd., Sp. Pl., vol. iv. p. 480. Pursch, Fl. Amer.,vol. i. p. 399.--POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA, Linn.--AROIDEAE, Juss. 

Somewhat caulescent; leaves ternate, with ovate acuminate leaflets; spadix clavate; flowers monoecious. The flowers are green and purple, and the roots are used by the Indians as a remely for colic.

For more on this species, see its entry in the Birds of North America Field Guide.