380 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



quence of its bold little builder flying in ray face whenever I approached too 

 near, even before its nest contained any eggs. The grounds were in frequent 

 use, and the ])air were at first a good deal disturbed by these constant intru- 

 sions, but they soon became reconciled to their company, and would not leave 

 their position, even though the game was contested immediately under their 

 nest, which was thus often brought within a foot of the heads of the players. 

 Before this nest was quite finished, the female began her duties of incubation. 

 Her assiduous mate was constantly engaged at first in completing the ex- 

 ternal ornamentation of the nest with lichens and mosses, and then with a 

 renewal of his interrupted concerts of song. These duties he varied by 

 frequent captures of insects, winged and creeping, most of which he duly 

 carried to his mate. His song was varied, sweet, and touchingly beautiful. 

 Less powerful than the notes of several others of its lamily, except those of 

 the Warhlhig, I know of none more charming. 



These birds reach iSTew England about the 10th of May, and usually have 

 their nests constructed early in June. Their habits, in all essential respects, 

 are the same as those of all its family. They are somewhat confiding and 

 trustful of man, are readily approached, and soon become so well acquainted 

 with those among whom they have a home as to fearlessly come to the win- 

 dows of the house in pursuit of spiders or flies, and even to enter them. In 

 the latter case they cannot readily make their exit, and soon lose their self- 

 possession, beating their heads against the walls and ceiling in vain attempts 

 to get out, unless caught and released. In one instance a young bird, that 

 liad entered my barn-cliamber, became so entangled in cobwebs, around his 

 wings and feet, as to be unable to escape again. "When taken in the hand, 

 and his meshes one by one picked out from about his feet and quills, he 

 was very docile, made no resistance or outcry, nor any attempt to escape, 

 until he was entirely freed from his bonds, although it required some time 

 and care to accomplish it. When entirely freed from these clogs, and per- 

 mitted to go, he flew away very deliberately to a short distance, and occupied 

 himself with dressing his disordered plumage. 



The nest of this species is also a pendent structure, and hemispherical in 

 shape. It may always be readily distinguished from any other nest of this 

 family by the profusion of lichens and mosses with which its outer portion 

 is adorned and covered, giving it the appearance of a large moss-covered 

 knot. 



In most of the towns in the vicinity of Boston this species, though not 

 abundant, is quite common. Their nests, built -usually in low and rather 

 conspicuous positions for birds of this kind, occur most frequently in gardens 

 and orchards. One of these, found suspended from a moss-covered branch 

 of an apple-tree in Eoxbury, may be taken as typical of its kind. Its 

 rim was firmly bound around the fork of a branch by a continuation of the 

 materials that form the outside of the nest itself These are an interweaving 

 of spiders'-webs, and silky threads from insect cocoons, largely intermingled 



