THE OVENB1RD. 



L OW and then an observer has 

 the somewhat rare pleasure 

 of seeing this Warbler (a 

 trifle smaller than the 

 English Sparrow) as 

 he scratches away, fowl fashion, for 

 his food. He has more than one name, 

 and is generally known as the Golden- 

 crowned Thrush, which name, it seems 

 to us, is an appropriate one, for by 

 any one acquainted with the Thrush 

 family he would at once be recognized 

 as of the genus. He has still other 

 names, as the Teacher, Wood Wagtail, 

 and Golden-crowned Accentor. 



This warbler is found nearly all over 

 the United States, hence all the Amer- 

 ican readers of BIRDS should be able 

 to make its personal acquaintance. 



Mr. Ridgway, in " Birds of Illinois," 

 a book which should be especially 

 valued by the citizens of that state, 

 has given so delightful an account of 

 the habits of the Golden-crown, that 

 we may be forgiven for using a part of 

 it. He declares that it is one of the 

 most generally distributed and numer- 

 ous birds of eastern North America, 

 that it is almost certain to be found in 

 any piece of woodland, if not too wet, 

 and its frequently repeated song, 

 which, in his opinion, is not musical, 

 or otherwise particularly attractive, 

 but very sharp, clear, and emphatic, is 

 often, especially during noonday in 

 midsummer, the only bird note to be 

 heard. 



You will generally see the Ovenbird 

 upon the ground walking gracefully 

 over the dead leaves, or upon an old 

 log, making occasional halts, during 

 which its body is tilted daintily up and 

 down. Its ordinary note, a rather faint 

 but sharp chip, is 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 Burroughs as sound- 

 ing like the words Teacher, teacher, 

 teacher, teacher, teacher ! the accent on 

 the first syllable, and each word uttered 

 with increased force. Mr. Burroughs 

 adds, however, that it has a far rarer 

 song, which it reserves for some nymph 

 whom it meets in the air. Mounting 

 by easy flights to the top of the tallest 

 tree, it launches into the air with a 

 sort of suspended, hovering flight, and 

 bursts into a perfect ecstacy of song, 

 rivaling the Gold Finch's in vivacity 

 and the Linnet's in melody. Thus do 

 observers differ. To many, no doubt, 

 it is one of the least disagreeable of 

 noises. Col. Goss is a very enthusiastic 

 admirer of the song of this Warbler. 

 Hear him : "Reader, if you wish to 

 hear this birds' love song in its fullest 

 power, visit the deep woods in the 

 early summer, as the shades of night 

 deepen and most of the diurnal birds 

 have retired, for it is then its lively, 

 resonant voice falls upon the air 

 unbroken, save by the silvery flute- 

 like song of the Wood Thrush; and if 

 your heart does not thrill with pleasure, 

 it is dead to harmonious sounds." 

 What more has been said in prose of 

 the song of the English Nightingale ? 

 The nests of the Golden Crown are 

 placed on the ground, usually in a 

 depression among leaves, and hidden 

 in a low bush, log, or overhanging 

 roots; when in an open space roofed 

 over, a dome-shaped structure made of 

 leaves, strip pings from plants and 

 grasses, with entrance on the side. 

 The eggs are from three to six, white 

 or creamy white, glossy, spotted as a 

 rule rather sparingly over the surface. 

 In shape it is like a Dutch oven, hence 

 the name of the bird. 



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