146 NESTS AND EGGS OF BIRDS. 



flies or cynips, caterpillars, coleoptera and ants. In autumn, the 

 young frequent the gardens, groves and orchards, feeding likewise 

 on berries of various kir.ds, as on those of the cornel, wild-grape 

 and five-leaved ivy ; at this season they are very fat and fly and 

 forage in families." 



02. THE OVEN-BIRD 



SEIURUS AURICAPILLUS (i.) Swainson 



Golden-crowned Thrush; "Water-thrush, or "Wagtail; "Water "Warbler; 

 Land Kickup ( West Indies) ; Orange-crowned Accentor. 



This pretty and familiar woodland bird is common everywhere in 

 the Eastern United States, as far as the dry plains, and northward 

 to Alaska and Hudson's bay. 



Rather an early arrival in the middle and northern states (win- 

 tering rarely this side of Mexico and the Antilles), it quickly pro- 

 ceeds to establish its well-guarded home. The site chosen is 

 usually the side of a hill in the woods, — less often in a cleared 

 space, and then only when the shelter of bushes is close by ; 

 and it is noticeable that the neighborhood of water is not hn- 

 portant, as seems to be the case with its congeners next suc- 

 ceeding. Scraping aside the dead leaves until a foundation of 

 solid earth is secured, the skilful bird entwines linear leaves, 

 grasses, shreds of bark and bits "of moss or blossoms into a 

 circular bed both dry and warm. Then, from materials close at 

 hand, and hence not discernible at once from any difference 

 between them and their surroundings, she heaps up a parapet, 

 and drags upon the top old dead leaves, long dry weeds and 

 stems of grasses, pieces of light bark that the squirrels or wood- 

 peckers have thrown down, and even twigs, until she has made 

 a complete domed roof over her snug *'farm," with its little un- 

 noticed door in front whence she can peer out. She has thus 

 converted her house into a cave, where she may sit secure 

 from anything but accident. Varying in its timber with the lo- 



