190 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



crease toward the middle and diminish toward 

 the end, forming a musical swell that is almost 

 perfect. While a unique and highly interesting 

 performance, it is hardly worthy to be called 

 a song. I have never heard any other sound 

 from the Black-poll, but it is said to have a call 

 note ''tsip,'^ or " chip,^^ that is occasionally heard. 



They are the least restive of the Warblers I 

 have observed. Perched on a dead tree, I have 

 heard him trill his quaint lay for a half hour 

 without stopping to catch fly or beetle that 

 might chance to go droning by. 



In summer they seek evergreen trees in the 

 forest, where they build from four to ten feet 

 above the ground. The nest is made of fine root- 

 lets, twigs, moss and grasses, lined with fine 

 grass or feathers. The eggs are usually white, 

 spotted with brown or lilac. The crown of the 

 male is black, the nape black, streaked with 

 white, and there is a dash of white over the eye. 

 The back is grayish, streaked with white, and 

 there are two white wing bars. The white under 

 parts are streaked with black, more prominent 

 on the side?. With the female the crown is less 

 black, the back is inclined toward olive-green 

 and the under parts are yellowish. Black-polls 

 are about six inches in length. They nest from 

 northern New England to Greenland and in 

 Alaska, wintering in South America. 



Ovenbird. This very attractive little War- 

 bler is so different from all others in habits 

 and notes that he will be easily identified when 

 once you meet him. Contrary to the habits of 

 his cousins, he spends the most of his time on 



