OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. HJ) 



This bird is nowhere a permanent resident in any part of 

 the United States. In Eastern Pennsylvania, it most com- 

 monly arrives during the first week in Mav, already paired. 

 It seldom appears earlier, never later. It is of a shy and 

 retired disposition, concealing itself during the daytime, 

 in close forests, among the leaves or underbrush: and 

 only venturing forth in quest of food during the shadowy 

 twilight. Such a decided partiality has it for the covert of 

 woods, that we have rarely met it in open fields. The som- 

 bre shadows cast upon the ground by the quivering leaves 

 above, and the faint streaks of light that pass through their 

 interstices, combined with the dark colors of the leaves that 

 repose upon the soil, create a sort of grav light which beau- 

 tifullv harmonizes with the sober tints of these birds, and 

 thus renders them safe from danger. 



Few of the common people are sufficiently acquainted 

 with this bird, to discriminate it from its closely allied rel- 

 ative, which often frequents similar situations. The unusual 

 places to which it resorts, together with its peculiar habits, 

 operate to prevent that familiarity which less retired species 

 enjoy with man. We have often in our travels observed an 

 individual of this species to start up within a few paces of 

 us. and on swift and noiseless wings alight directly in front 

 of us. and scarcely more than fifteen paces distant. After in- 

 dicating the spot bv an adjoining bush or a fallen log. we 

 have stealthily approached, straining the vision to its utmost 

 capacity to gain a glimpse of the squatting bird, but before 

 this desire could be gratified, the object of our search was up 

 and oft* again. Time after time has been thus spent, but 

 Seldom has it been our good fortune to consummate ibis 

 desire. Even when the greatest caution is observed to avoid 

 giving alarm, its detection of danger is both remarkable and 

 wonderful. Its visual organs being ill-adapted to the broad 

 glare of day-light, and even the mellowed light of the woods 

 seemingly being too powerful a stimulus, it certainly depends 

 upon other means for the detection of danger. The organ 

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