502 THE R UB Y-CRO WNED KINGLE T. 



entrance in the upper part, and was composed of hanging 

 moss, ornamented with bits of dead leaves, and lined chiefly 

 with feathers." An egg, found in Labrador, is said to be 

 small and pretty, with clay-colored spots on a white ground. 

 Notwithstanding the immense numbers of this little insec- 

 tivorous species, the study of its nidification still invites the 

 ornithologist. 



THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 



Who has not seen the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus 

 calendula) in the thick migrations of spring and autumn ? 

 Who that visits the grove, the thicket or the orchard in 

 April or October can fail to hear its soft whispering tse-tse- 

 tse, as if the wee sprites, almost invisible but for their ner- 

 vous flitting motion, were confidentially lisping their secrets 

 in the thick branches overhead? Occasionally in the very 

 last days of its spring migration, one may hear its song. 

 Such was my privilege the first day of May (1883) a calm 

 sunny day, when every inch of atmosphere was calling to 

 swelling buds and springing grass, when every breath was 

 rest and inspiration. The place was a beautiful park-like, 

 open grove near Niagara River. The song came from out 

 of a thick clump of wild thorns, and was so loud and 

 spirited that I was led to expect a bird at least as large as 

 a Thrush. Chee-oo, chee-oo, chee-oo, chee-oo, choo, choo, choo, 

 tseet, tseet, tseet, tseet, te-tseet, te-tseet, te-tseet; again, tseet, tseet, 

 tseet, tseet, choo, choo, choo, choo, chee-oo, chee-oo, tsit, tsit, tsit, 

 tsit, may represent this wonderful melody, the first notes 

 being strongly palatal and somewhat aspirated, the latter 

 slender and sibilant, and more rapidly uttered; the first 

 part being also so full and animated as to make one think 

 of the Water Thrush, or the Winter Wren; while the last 

 part sounded like a succeedant song from a slender-voiced 

 Warbler. Could all this come from the throat of this tiny, 



