264 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



In the vicinity of i>oston, especially in the high grounds of Xorfolk and 

 Essex Counties, it is a nut uncommon species, and its nests are found in cer- 

 tain favorite localities. Nuttall regards ^lay 12 as the average of their first 

 appearance. Busy, quiet, and unsuspicious of man, they were seen by him, 

 collecting, in early October, in small groups, and moving restlessly through 

 the forests preparatory to departing south. June 8, 1830, he found a nest 

 of this species in a solitary situation among the Blue Hills of Milton, IVIass. 

 The nest was in a low and stunted juniper (a very unusual location). As 

 he approached, the female remained motionless on the edge of the nest, in 

 such a maimer as to be mistaken for a young bird. She then darted to the 

 ground, and, moving away expertly, disappeared. The nest contained four 

 eggs, which he describes as white inclining to flesh-color, variegated at tlie 

 larger end witli pale purjilish jjoints intersperseil witli l)ro\vn and black. The 

 nest was formed of fine strips of the inner liark of the junijier, and tougli white 

 fibrous bark of other ])lants, lined with soft featliers and the slender tops of 

 grass. The male bird was singing his simple chant, resembling the syllables 

 te-de-teritse-a, pronounced loud and slow, at the distance of a quarter of a mile 

 from the nest. He describes Iiis song as simple, drawling, and jilaintive. He 

 was constantly interrupting his song to catch small thes, keeping up a per- 

 petual snaj)ping of liis bill. 



Several nests of this bird, given me by Mr. George 0. Welch of Lynn, have 

 been found by him in higli trees in thick woods on tlie western borders of 

 that city. They are all small, snug, compact structtn-es, built on a base of 

 fine strips of bark, bits of leaves, and stems of jilants. Tlie upper rims are 

 a circular intertwining of fine slender twigs, interwoven with a few fine 

 stems of tlie most diilicate gra.sses. The inner ])ortions of these nests are 

 very softly and warmly bedded with tlie fine down and silky stems of 

 plants. They have a diameter of tiiree and a quarter inches, and a lieight of 

 one and a half. Tlie ca^^ty is two inches in diameter, and one and a Iialf 

 in depth. The eggs measure .70 by .50 of an incli, ha\e a wliite or )iur]ilisli- 

 white ground, and are blotched and dotted with markings of reddisli and 

 purplish brown, diifused over the entire egg, but more numerous about the 

 larger end. One end is much more pointed than tlie other. 



