360 l.IFK-llISToklKS OF BIRDS 



and ever and anon a half-dozen voices are heard 

 nearly at the same instant, producing a perfect 

 medley of sounds. While the females are incuba- 

 ting, and even afterwards up till the time of their 

 departure, we are greeted with the same curious 

 yet agreeable reception on every return to accus- 

 tomed haunts. 



The flight of this species is low, firm, and but 

 slightly protracted. 



Its song is loud, clear, and resonant, and has a 

 pleasing intonation which when once heard cannot 

 be forgotten. It is not continuous, but is produced 

 at somewhat graduated intervals. It resembles 

 tiwa-kcr-ec uttered with a rising inflection. Its 

 call-note is a simple tchick. 



Mating ordinarily begins about the 2Oth of 

 April in favorable seasons, and by the 28th of the 

 same month, or the beginning- of May, th ebircls 

 are ready for building. A nest is constructed 

 within a tussock of grass, but generally upon the 

 alder bushes so common along the borders of 

 meadow streams, where the young are less liabK- 

 to the attacks of ;uch snakes as the Bascanion 

 constrictor and Tropidonotus sipedon, which have 

 such a decided penchant for such fare. Those 

 built upon bushes are more symmetrical and com- 

 pact in structure than those which are placed upon 

 small mounds in swampy situations, and display 

 occasional patches oi mud, exteriorly. The latter 

 are surrounded by tall overarching grasses, and 



<*) <^ 



have in consequence a looseness of arrangement 

 and will scarcely bear manipulation. 



