OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 161 



and beauty about the pairing season. April n, is not with 

 out its etVect upon the human ear. To some, it may lack the 

 most needed essentials of harmony ; but to us, there are a 

 sweetness and sublimity in the strain, which thrill while they 

 enrapture. It is pronounced in a loud sharp key, which 

 can be heard for nearly one-fourth of a mile, it is a simple 

 dissyllable, somewhat forcibly aspirated on the initial con- 

 sonant, and pronounced in quick and rapid succession ; but 

 ends abruptly in a short dissyllabic unaspirated sound. The 

 following is its expression : W wit-ah-W wit-ah-tt wlt-ah, ht-to. 

 At a distance, these notes resemble wick-a-wick-a-wtck-a, but 

 on a near approach, the delusion vanishes. For nearly four 

 hours we listened to this melody, separating the closely 

 blended sounds, which became so familiar, eventually, that 

 we were astonished at our utter inability to distinguish the 

 parts, at first. The call-note may be represented by the 

 syllables kikikikiki, pronounced sharply and in extremely 

 quick succession ; occasionally, a very sharp sound is heard, 

 indicative of vexation and disappointment combined. It 

 may be quite accurately denoted by ske-er. When disturbed 

 while nesting, a few shrill squeaking notes are uttered, in- 

 termingled with certain gurgling tones which are incapable 

 of expression. 



The eggs when fresh are oblong-oval in shape, ot a beau- 

 tiful white color, and measure i.o^ inches in length, and .88 

 of an inch in width. 



