THE BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER 101 



are seen at a glance. His movements are quite 

 slow compared with some of the warblers. If he 

 will only betray the locality of that little domicile 

 where his plainly clad mate is evidently sitting, 

 it is all we will ask of him. But this he seems 

 in no wise disposed to do. Here and there, and 

 up and down, we follow him, often losing him, 

 and as often refinding him by his song ; but the 

 clew to his nest, how shall we get it ? Does he 

 never go home to see how things are getting on, 

 or to see if his presence is not needed, or to take 

 madam a morsel of food? No doubt he keeps 

 within earshot, and a cry of distress or alarm from 

 the mother bird would bring him to the spot in 

 an instant. Would that some evil fate would 

 make her cry, then ! Presently he encounters a 

 rival. His feeding-ground infringes upon that of 

 another, and the two birds regard each other 

 threateningly. This is a good sign, for their 

 nests are evidently near. 



Their battle-cry is a low, peculiar chirp, not 

 very fierce, but bantering and confident. They 

 quickly come to blows, but it is a very fantastic 

 battle, and, as it would seem, indulged in more 

 to satisfy their sense of honor than to hurt each 

 other, for neither party gets the better of the 

 other, and they separate a few paces and sing, and 

 squeak, and challenge each other in a very happy 



