WOOD WARBLERS 191 



the ground, walking sedately about in quest of 

 his food, bugs, grubs and various insects. In 

 manner of movement and pose he reminds one 

 of the larks. In flight he seems like a Thrush and 

 formerly was grouped with that family under 

 the name of Golden-crowned Thrush; but 

 more careful investigation caused him to be 

 classified as a Warbler. 



He is a very common inhabitant of the leafy 

 woods of the Northern States in summer, where 

 his peculiar notes are heard almost constantly. 

 Beginning low, they increase in volume, with 

 explosive emphasis at the end. Mr. Burroughs 

 very fittingly represented his notes thus: 

 "Teacher, Teacher, Teacher, TEACHER, 

 TEACHER." This interpretation was seen to 

 be so fitting it has come to be almost universally 

 known as the Teacher Bird. This strain is not 

 melodious, but is decidedly energetic and sug- 

 gestive of cool, sylvan retreats and leafy bowers 

 with carpets of dun brown. 



The Ovenbird is slightly longer than the 

 Black-poll and stouter. The crown is bright 

 orange bordered with black lines. Elsewhere 

 the upper parts are olive-green somewhat tinged 

 with brown. The under parts are white with the 

 sides of the throat, breast and sides heavily 

 marked with dark brown. It is a handsome 

 bird, pert in bearing and smart in dress. The 

 name, Ovenbird, comes from its unique nest 

 built almost wholly of dry leaves and roofed 

 over like a Dutch oven. Placed on the ground 

 in the midst of a thick carpet of dead leaves, 

 it is most difficult to find unless one chances 



