334 



Bird -Lore 



spruces on the west shore of Lake Itasca, minghng its dashing melody with the 

 wonderful, serene anthems floating down from the Hermit Thrushes perched 

 aloft in the great pines. Ernest Thompson Seton ('Birds of Manitoba,' 1890) 

 states that "this lark-like song may be heard at almost any time of the night 

 in the grove where a pair of these birds have settled for the love season;" and 

 BoUes relates: 



"When the Whip-poor-will is clucking, 



When the bats unfurl their canvas, 



When dim twilight rules the forest, 



Soaring towards the high star's radiance, 



Far above the highest tree-top, 



Singing goes the sweet Accentor. 



The middle of July closes the song-season, and thereafter the Oven-bird is 

 rarely observed. 



Most of the Oven-birds leave during the month of September, and by the 

 close of that month only stray individuals, like the one mentioned at the 

 beginning of this article, are to be encountered. They are then wending their 

 way leisurely to their winter abode in Mexico, Central America, the West 

 Indies, and southern Florida. 



'TERRACED SI'I!.!. 



