OVEN-BIRD; GOLDEN-CROWNED 

 ACCENTOR. 



SEITJRUS AUROCAPILLirS. 



"^ I "'HE popular name oven-bird, perhaps as appropriate 

 "^ as any, is derived, doubtless, from the architecture 

 of the nest, which is built on the ground, among old 

 leaves, and roofed over like an oven, with a door on one 

 side. It is so ingeniously constructed that no eye, not 

 even the cow-bird's, is likely to discover it, unless it be by 

 seeing the bird approach or leave it. The oven-bird does 

 not fly from the nest, but runs from it with a most 

 peculiar, light, and graceful step. 



Wilson says, "The oven-bird has no song; but a 

 shrill, energetic twitter." Other writers pronounce him 

 a great singer; Dr. Coues declaring him the equal of 

 the " Louisiana Thrush itself." An experienced observer 

 assures me that he has never heard anything from 

 the oven-birds but the one brief snatch of a song 

 which they are forever repeating, and such has been 

 my own experience; still, I do not question the tes- 

 timony of those who claim to have heard fine songs 

 from them. 



I can hardly recall the notes of any bird that I have 



