466 GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 



ter station in tropical America, from the beginning to 

 the middle of May, and extends his migrations probably 

 to Nova Scotia as well as Canada. With the shy, unso- 

 cial and suspicious habits of his gaudy fraternity, he 

 takes up his abode in the deepest recess of the forest, 

 where timidly flitting from observation, he darts from tree 

 to tree like a flashing meteor. A gaudy sylph, conscious 

 of his brilliance, and the exposure to which it subjects 

 him, he seems to avoid remark, and is only solicitous to 

 be known to his humble mate, and hid from all beside. 

 He therefore rarely approaches the habitations of men, 

 unless perhaps the skirts of the orchard, where he some- 

 times however, builds his nest, and takes a taste of the 

 early and inviting, though forbidden cherries. 



Among the thick foliage of the tree in which he seeks 

 support and shelter, from the lofty branches, at times, we 

 hear his almost monotonous tsliip ivitee, tsMp-'idee, or 

 tsliuhadee, tsliukadee repeated at short intervals, and in a 

 pensive under-tone, heightened by the solitude in which 

 he delights to dwell. The same note is also uttered, by 

 the female, when the retreat of herself and young is ap- 

 proached ; and the male occasionally utters in recogni- 

 tion to his mate, as they perambulate the branches, alow 

 whispering ^tait in a tone of caution and tenderness. But, 

 besides these calls on the female, he has also during the 

 period of incubation, and for a considerable time after, a 

 more musical strain, resembling somewhat in the mellow- 

 ness of its tones the song of the fifing Baltimore. The syl- 

 lables to which I have barkened, appear like 'tshoove 

 'wait'tvait, 'vehoivit wait, and 'loait, 'vehowif vea ivait, with 

 other additions of harmony for which no words are ade- 

 quate. This pleasing and highly musical meandering 

 ditty is delivered for hours, in a contemplative mood, in 

 the same tree with his busy consort. If surprised, they flit 



