THE OSPREY. 



101 



air, and not until they had fallen into the dark, tone and on a tolerably high pitch. At a distance, it 



murky-colored water below, did they cease, and dart much resembled the notes of the Solitary Sandpiper, 



off in opposite directions, apparently much startled and I have frequently found it somewhat difficult 



by their sudden plunge. At other times, a mis- when the two species were in the immediate vicinity, 



chievously inclined little fellow will dart recklessly to distinguish between : but upon a closer approach, 



at some unsuspecting one, who, being startled by the resemblance is lost, the penetrating ring in the 



the onset, will at once retreat. The pursurer gives Warbler's notes being then audible. The male is an 



chase, and away they go, not far apart, over the tree incessant singer, caring not for the elemental condi- 



tops, through the underbrush and thickets, now tions nor for the time of day. He is as likely to be 



darting directly along the surface of the water, then heard in the early morning as at noon or in the 



among the trees, seemingly to illuminate the dark evening. Frequently he will sit amidst the green 



shadows beneath, until they are lost to view and one foliage, dividing his time between adjusting his 



wonders at the finale. 

 The courting of the 

 male bird is a pretty 

 sight. Swelling with 

 pride in his bright gold- 

 en coat, this little lover 

 in feathers presents his 

 case in the most loving 

 and winning manner, 

 hovering around or 

 perched near the object 

 of his adoration with 

 spread wings and tail 

 extended, fairly outdo- 

 ing himself in his effort 

 to make an impression. 

 She, with bewitching 

 indifference, seems to 

 care but little as to the 

 outcome, but finally 

 matters are amicably 

 settled between them 

 and household duties 

 are almost immediately 

 commenced. The birds, 

 especially the males, 

 have a pretty habit of 

 carrying their tails 

 spread, much in the 

 manner of the Redstart. 

 When the sexes meet, a 

 tender note, that of salutation or recognition 

 barely audible. 



plumage and singing 

 sweet little ditties to his 

 mate, she, more than 

 likely, being just within 

 the entrance of her 

 domicile on her eggs. 

 Occasionally he re- 

 mains perfectly mo- 

 tionless on his green 

 perch, probably deep in 

 thought or in a reminis- 

 cent mood, but suddenly 

 bursting out with peet, 

 ts'U't'el, tsTcee/, t sweet, 

 tsweet, ts7veet, he darts 

 away in search of some 

 fat unsuspecting spider 

 for his better half. 



The notes of alarm, 

 anger, or distress, are 

 somewhat sharp, being 

 compared to those of 

 the Large-billed Water 

 Thrush by Mr. Wm. 

 Brewster According to 

 this author, there is an- 

 other song, which might 

 be termed a love song. 

 He described it as fol- 

 lows ; "In addition to 

 the song above de- 

 s scribed the male has a different and far sweeter one, 

 which is reserved for select occasions, — an outpouring 



YOUNG BURROWING OWL. 



rHOTOGRAPHED FROM LIFE BY H. W. NASH, AU<;. 20, IN I'UEBLO 



COUNTY. COLORADO. 



The most difficult feature to describe in the biog- of the bird's most tender feelings, intended for the 

 raphy of a bird is its song. Even the most elaborate ears of his mate alone, like the rare evening warble of 

 treatise fails to bring to the unaccustomed ear a true the Oven-bird {^Siiiius aiiruapillits]. It is apparently 

 conception of it, and as I pen these lines, I feel my uttered only while on the wing. Although so low 

 utter inability to convey to the reader's imagination and feeble as to be inaudible many rods away, it is 

 the notes of the Prothonotary Warbler. True, they very sweet, resembling somewhat the song of the 

 do not vie with the melodious ditties of some other canary, given in an undertone, with trills or 'water- 

 woodland songsters, but they are very striking, even notes' interspersed. The flight during its delivery is 

 pleasing, and when once heard are not easily forgot- very different from that at all other times. The bird 

 ten. Six, or sometimes seven, syllables, uttered in progresses slowly, with a trembling, fluttering mo- 

 rapid succession but with an instantaneous pause tion, its head raised and tail expanded. This song 

 after the first note, constitute the regular song. It was heard most frequently after incubation had be- 

 much resembles, peet, tsiveet, t sweet, tsweet, tsweet, gun." (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. Ill, (1878) p. 

 tiweet, ts'n'eet, uttered in a ringing or penetrating 157.) I cannot remember ever hearing this song. It 



