70 IN THE HEMLOCKS. 



its nest or become acquainted with its haunts and gen- 

 eral habits. Its song is quite striking and novel, though 

 its voice at once suggests the class of warblers to 

 which it belongs. It is very shy and wary, flying but a 

 few feet at a time, and studiously concealing itself from 

 your view. I discover but one pair here. The female 

 has food in her beak, but carefully avoids betraying 

 the locality of her nest. The ground-warblers all 

 have one notable feature, — very beautiful legs, as white 

 and delicate as if they had always worn silk stockings 

 and satin slippers. High tree warblers have dark- 

 brown or black legs and more brilliant plumage, but 

 less musical ability. 



The chestnut-sided belongs to the latter class. He 

 is quite common in these woods, as in all the woods 

 about. He is one of the rarest and handsomest of the 

 warblers ; his white breast and throat, chestnut sides, 

 and yellow crown show conspicuously. But little is 

 known of his habits or haunts. Last year I found the 

 nest of one in an uplying beech-wood, in a low bush 

 near the road-side, where cows passed and browsed 

 daily. Things went on smoothly till the cow-bunting 

 stole her egg into it, when other mishaps followed, and 

 the nest was soon empty. A characteristic attitude of 

 the male during this season is a slight drooping of the 

 wings, and tail a little elevated, which gives him a very 

 smart, bantam-like appearance. His song is fine and 

 hurried, and not much of itself, but has its place in the 

 general chorus. 



