100 L O U I S I A N A W A T E R T H R U S H.
heard the latter species sing, but merely utter a single smart twit, when
started by surprise. It moreover frequently feeds on minute water-insects,
none of which I have ever been able to discover on dissecting the
present species.
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.
I think its proper station in a general system would be between the
Golden-crowned Thrush and the Water Thrush. Its location, however,
I leave to the consideration of better ornithologists than myself.
The nest of this species is commenced in the first days of April. I
may here remark, that I am not aware that the Common Water Thrush
breeds in the United States. 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, this bird 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
L O U I S I A N A W A T E R T H R U S H. 1 01
The plant on which I have placed a male (the sexes being so nearly
alike as to offer no external distinctive characters) is commonly called the
Indian Turnip. It grows abundantly in the places frequented by this
bird. The root, which is like a small potato, is extremely pungent.
TuitDUS LUDOVICIANUS.
Adult Male. Plate XIX.
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 compresseiI,
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 5J inches, extent of wings 9 | ; bill along the ridge along
the gap | ; tarsus \.
The female, as has been said, hardly differs from the male in appearance.
T H E I N D I A N T U R N I P .
A R U M T R I P H Y I X U M , Willd. Sp. PI. vol. iv. p. 480. Pursh, Flor. Amer. vol. i. p. 399.
— P O L Y A N D R I A P O L Y G Y R I A , Linn. Auoini:.r, Juss.
Somewhat caulescent; leaves ternate, with ovate acuminate leaflets;
spadix clavate; flowers monoecious. The flowers are green and purple,
and the roots arc used by the Indians as a remedy for colic.