BIRDS OF KANSAS 59 



(probably a little soutb) nortb to within the Arctic circle; 

 wintering in southern Florida, the Bahamas, West Indies 

 and Mexico to southern Central America. 



Iris dark brown; bill— upper black, under pale flesh 

 color, with end dusky; legs flesh color; feet and claws 

 light brown. 



The following interesting description of the habits of 

 this bird is taken from " Birds of Illinois," by Kidgway : 



" The Golden-crowned Thrush, or Oven-bird, is on© of 

 the most generally distributed and numerous birds of east- 

 ern IN'orth America. It is almost certain to be found in 

 any piece of woodland, if not too wet, and its frequently 

 repeated song, which is not musical, or otherwise particu- 

 larly attractive, but very sharp, clear, and emphatic, is 

 often, particularly during noonday in midsummer, the 

 only bird note to be heard. It lives much upon the ground, 

 where it may be seen walking gracefully over the dead 

 leaves, or upon an old log, making occasional halts, during 

 which its body is tilted daintily up and down, much in the 

 manner of the Water-Thrushes (8. motacilla and noiyehora- 

 censis), but more like the Kentucky Warbler, often to be 

 seen in the same localities. Its ordinary note is a rather 

 faint, but sharp ' Chip,' prolonged into a chatter, when one 

 is chased by another. The usual song is very clear and 

 penetrating, but not musical, and is well expressed by 

 John Burroughs, in ^ Wake Bobin,' as sounding like the 

 words, ^ Teacher, teacher; teacher, teacher, teacher ! ' — 

 the accent on the first syllable, and each word uttered with 

 increased force and shrillness. But, as Mr. Burroughs 

 truly says, ^ He has far rarer song which he reserves for 

 some nymph whom he meets in the air. Mounting by easy 



