PASSERES — MOTACILLID^E — SE1URUS. 79 



THE OVEN-BIRD. 



Seiurus aurocapillus. 



plate xlvi. fig. 102. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



T. aurocapillus, Lin. Golden-crowned Thrush, Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 3, p. 33ft 



T. id. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 88, pi. 14, fig. 2. 



Sylvia aurocapilla. Bonaparte, Ann. Ls'c. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 77. 



T. id. Audcbon, folio, pi. 143 ; Orn. Biog. Vol. 2, p. 253, and Vol. 5, p. 447. 



Oven-bird, NuttAll, Man. Ornilh. Vol. 1, p. 355. 



Golden-crowned Accentor. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 227. 



Golden-crowned Wagtail. Audubon, Birds of Am. Vol. 3, p. 35, pi. 148. 



Golden-crowned Wood Wagtail. Giraud, Birds of Long Island, p. 92. 



Characteristics. Yellowish olive. Crown orange, margined on each side with black. 

 Beneath whitish ; the breast spotted with dark brown. Length 6 

 inches. 



Description. Bill short, rather robust. Bristles at the angles of the mouth very short. 

 Tail even or slightly emarginate ; its feathers acutely pointed, and extending an inch beyond 

 the folded wings ; the three first quills subequal. 



Color Above yellowish olive ; the tips of the wings, and the inner vanes of the quills, 

 dusky brown ; the brownish orange spot on the crown bordered on each side by a series of 

 black spots, often continuous Bill and feet pale. Spots on the breast triangular. Female, 

 with a paler crown. Young : crown uniform with the rest of the body. 



Length, 6 • 0. Alar extent, 9 - 0. 



This is a common species in our State during the summer. It winters in Mexico ; appears 

 in Louisiana about the beginning of March ; in this State the latter end of April, and ranges 

 north to the 55th parallel. It breeds in this and the neighboring States, often producing two 

 broods in the season. One of its trivial names is derived from its. sinking a curious oven- 

 shaped nest in the ground, where it deposits 4-6 white eggs, spotted at the larger end with 

 brown. It is a shy solitary bird, feeding on ants, caterpillars, and small coleopterous insects. 

 It leaves or passes through this State to its winter abode in the early part of September. 



