A ME RICA N ORNITHO LOGY. 



153 



bling the barking of a small dog would sound from the next bush, to en- 

 courage me on. Once 1 stumbled among the thick vines, which fact 

 caused him to burst into a boisterous, chuckling cackle. Soon 1 came to a 

 narrow open sp^ace where there were no briars. This was my opportunity. 

 Whereas up to now I had tiirough necessity been proceeding slowly, I 

 rushed across this space and through the next brush as fast as I could. I 

 was just in time and had a good view of him as he lit in the next bush. 

 This sudden move on my part was more than he had reckoned on and I 

 really think that he was ashamed of himself for being caught in his game 

 of hide and seek. He gave one disgusted chirp and disappeared. 



Photo by J. B. Pardoe 

 NEST OF YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. 



Aside from his remarkable vocal attainments, the Chat has other pecul- 

 iarities in his manners that call our attention to him. During the mating 

 season, he feels called upon to make as much noise as possible. Probably 

 his weird uncanny notes are music to his ears and he seeks by this means 

 to win the fair one he has set his heart on. Having been accepted his ex- 

 huberance of joy knows no bounds, and he mounts skywards uttering his 

 choicest selections, and performing the most grotesque evolutions. No 

 other bird that 1 know is as boisterous in his enthusiasm as this one. 



