124: FAMILIAR FEATURES OF THE ROADSIDE. 



Maryland Yellowthroat. 



the briers, dead leaves, and grass, on or very near the 

 ground ; in it the little bird lays from three to five 

 tiny, semitranslucent, buff-white eggs speckled with 



reddish brown. 



Among the moun- 

 tain maples beside the 

 road, and often through 

 the alder thickets which 

 border the brook, the 

 yellowthroat may be 

 seen flitting here and 

 there, and occasionally 

 stopping to inquire 

 "Which is it? Which is it? Which is it?" in a 

 shrill, piping voice ; or frequently he seems to say 

 " TF^-chi-chi-chee. TF^-chi-chi-chee. TF<?-chi-chi- 

 ehee." * 



The Maryland yellowthroat is a regular visitor 

 of Campton, N. H. Throughout the glad months 

 of May and June he is perpetually dodging in and 

 out among the shrubbery of the beautiful highway 

 that leads northward to the Franconia Notch, and 



stalks and leaves of dried grass, and lined with fine, dark-brown 

 roots. 



* Frank M. Chapman, in the Handbook of Birds, says : " The 

 birds near New York city seem to me to say, ' I beseech you, I 

 beseech you, I beseech you,' though, to be sure, the tone is far 

 from pleading." 



