APRIL 99 
through bushes as if pursued by a guilty conscience. 
Only when the musical fit is upon it does it come 
up into full view, and invite the world to hear and 
behold. 
The chewink is a shy bird also, but not stealthy. 
It is very inquisitive, and sets up a great scratching 
among the leaves, apparently to attract your atten- 
tion. The male is perhaps the most conspicuously 
marked of all the ground-birds except the bobolink, 
being black above, bay on the sides, and white be- 
neath. The bay is in compliment to the leaves he 
is forever scratching among, — they have rustled 
against his breast and sides so long that these parts 
have taken their color; but whence come the white 
and black? ‘The bird seems to be aware that his 
color betrays him, for there are few birds in the 
woods so careful about keeping themselves screened 
from view. When in song, its favorite perch is 
the top of some high bush near to cover. On being 
disturbed at such times, it pitches down into the 
brush and is instantly lost to view. 
This is the bird that Thomas Jefferson wrote to 
Wilson about, greatly exciting the latter’s curiosity. 
Wilson was just then upon the threshold of his 
career as an ornithologist, and had made a drawing 
of the Canada jay which he sent to the President. 
It was a new bird, and in reply Jefferson called 
his attention to a ‘‘curious bird” which was every- 
where to be heard, but scarcely ever to be seen. He 
had for twenty years interested the young sports- 
men of his neighborhocd to shoot one for him, but 
