THE PERCHING BIRDS. 63 



will be found to have given way to boldness, and the 

 wren-like habits otherwise are added to by a decided 

 disposition to defend its own. Again, its song, of 

 late, has a great deal of self-assertion in it, if loud, 

 distinct utterance has any signification. I doubt if 

 any crested tit or cardinal makes itself heard for a 

 greater distance than 

 travels the shriller 

 notes of this warbler. 

 While I have never 

 seen these birds in the 

 city, they do not hesi- 

 tate to go into the Maryland Yellow-throat. 



good old-fashioned gardens in the country, however 

 near the house they may be, and are quite disposed to 

 forage on the sunny sides of cow-sheds and stables. 



I have found several nests in skunk-cabbage plants, 

 and still wonder if they were placed there for protec- 

 tion, for probably no animal is disposed to touch the 

 plant if it can avoid it; but what of the sense of 

 smell in the birds ? 



Classed as a warbler, but unlike them in every 

 particular as we see the bird in nature, is that re- 

 markable mimic and strange creature generally, the 

 Yellow-breasted Chat. " The bird does not appear 

 to winter anywhere in the United States ; it breeds 

 throughout its United States range." 



According to the temperature, but never very early, 

 in April, and sometimes not until May, does the chat 

 appear in the Delaware Valley, and then he betakes 

 himself immediately to a locality suited to his needs, 

 and there he stays. They spend no days in sight- 



