172 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. 



bird will be found in the nest, Yellow-throats being one 

 of the birds most frequently chosen by the Cowbird as 

 foster-parents. 



The Chat is the largest of the Warblers, and so unlike 

 them, or any other birds, in disposition that if classifica- 

 Yeliow-breastedChat ^ on were based on character, the Chat 



Meria virens. would surely be placed in a family by 



Plate LXV. itgelf> The Chat's peculiarities are 

 numerous, but are most evident in his song. Many 

 times I have sat, note-book and pencil in hand, trying to 

 express in words the song of a Chat singing in a neigh- 

 boring thicket, but I have never succeeded in putting on 

 paper anything which would convey an adequate idea of 

 the bird's remarkable vocal performances. Of others 

 who have attempted the same task, I think Mr. Bur- 

 roughs comes nearest to interpreting the bird's strange 

 medley. He says : " ~Now he barks like a puppy, then 

 quacks like a Duck, then rattles like a Kingfisher, then 

 squalls like a fox, then caws like a Crow, then mews like 

 a cat. . . . C-r-r-r-r-r whrr tJiafs it chee quack, 

 cluck*, yit-yit-yit now hit it tr-r-r-r when caw caw 

 cut. cut tea-boy who, wJio mew, mew" You may 

 be pardoned for doubting that a bird can produce so 

 strange a series of noises, but if you will go to the Chat's 

 haunts in thickety openings in the woods, or other bushy 

 places, and let him speak for himself, you will admit that 

 our alphabet can not do him justice. To hear the Chat is 

 one thing, to see him quite another. But he will repay 

 study, and if you will conceal yourself near his home you 

 may see him deliver part of his repertoire while on the 

 wing, with legs dangling, wings and tail flapping, and his 

 whole appearance suggesting that of a bird who has had 

 an unfortunate encounter with a charge of shot. 



But if the Chat's song is surprising when heard dur- 

 ing the day, imagine the effect it creates at night when 



