91 



this bird, or rather three nests, two of which are built within the other. In the 

 original nest had been deposited the egg of a Cow-bird ( Molothim ate-, Bodd.), then 

 within that nest, and rising above it, the Yellow-throat had built another nest, 

 which also became the depository of the hope of ofir^pring of this unnatural bird ; 

 again the little Warbler constructed a third nest upon the other two, burying the 

 second Cow-bird egg, and in this nest laid her complement of eggs. This curious 

 nest, which is like some others which have been found, was obtained near Brook- 

 ville. They leave for their winter home in mid-September. 



Genus ICTERIA Vikili.ot. 



Head of Yellow-breasted Chat, nat. size. 



275. Icteria virens < Linn.). Yellow-tibe.istkd Chat. 



Summer resident; common in southern half of the State; rare northward and 

 in the extreme northern counties almost if not quite unknown. Breeds throughout 

 its range in the State. They frequent brier patches and thickets; their favorite 

 haunt being among the bushes of a blackberry "patch." They are great ventrilo- 

 ciuists. Often a person to whom their habits are new will look for quite a long time 

 towards some spot from which the sound comes but where the bird is not. Even 

 those accustomed to their odd ways are often deceived and search for ihem in 

 places other than where they are. They have quite a variety of notes which, with 

 their strange antics, render them the most interesting summer bird among the 

 copses. At mating time they devote much time to aerial evolutions, which at all 

 times are interesting because of their oddity, but at times become exceedingly lu- 

 dicrous. While performing these various evolutions they give voice to a multitude 

 of strange sounds which seem to come from "here, there and everywhere" except 

 the throat of the odd and awkward bird descending towards the clump of bushes 

 near by. They arrive from April 24 to May 6, and are at once known by the 

 many strange sounds which come from some well known thicket. They begin 

 pairing within a day or two after arrival and then proceed to construct a nest, 

 which is usually placed from four to si.x feet from the ground in a bush or upon a 

 blackberry stalk. Eggs are found late in May and early in June. After the young 

 are able to leave the nest the family keeps together for some time at least. Most of 

 the Chats leave in September, but when food is abundant sometimes remain later- 

 I obtained one December 1, 1882. It was feeding upon poke berries. It is rare in 

 Allen County, ( Stockbridge ) ; also in Dekalb County, ( Hon. R. AV. McBride ) ; 

 in Starke County, ( Deane ) ; and Mr. Parker notes but a single occurrence in Lake 

 County. Mr. H. W. McBride reports it from Elkhart County. 



