WOOD \v.\i;r.u:i> 307 



comparatively rare they be<-ome ' The reason is not hard to find. At 

 most tiroes the Oven-bird is somewhat of a recluM-. II. |tasses much 

 of his time on or near the ground, generally where the woods are more 

 or lens undergrown. < >nly the practiced ear will detect his sharp, weak 



I f there be such a thing u- inspiration, I believe the Oven-bird sings 

 under its influence. Not that his usual song is in the least remark- 

 able, but because the bird is so obviously moved by a spirit which de- 

 mands utterance. Watch him now as he is about to sing. Flying up 

 from the ground, how cautiously he hops from branch to branch, and, 

 with crest slightly erect, walks carefully along a limb, when, suddenly 

 overcome by the music in his soul, he throws fear to the winds and 

 lifts up his voice in a crescendo chant which vibrates through tin- 

 woods. Teacher. Imrhrr. TK.V IIK.K. TKA< II Kit, TKACllEl;. .Mr. 

 Burroughs writes it, and the description is dilTn-ult to improve upon. 



The bird fairly quivers with the violence of his effort. The result 

 seems inadequate ; we feel that he is striving for something Utter. 

 ami, in truth, as Mr. Birknell says, he sometimes breaks the bonds 

 that ordinarily beset his expression, and "bursts forth with a wild out- 

 |M>uring of intricate and melodious song," the very force of which 

 carries him up into the air among the tree top^. 



676. Belarus noveboracensls <////. i. WATKR-TIIRISII. Ad. 

 ('[[XT part*, winjp*, ntul tail uniform olive; no wing- bur* or tail-put 

 butty line over the eye ; under part* white, tinired with pule sulphur-yellow, 

 and everywhere inclutiing throat streaked with black. L., 5-O4; W., 2-99; 

 T.. -J 11 ; H. from N., 'M. 



Rang*. Eastern North America; breoda from northern Illinois and north- 

 ern New England nortliward ; wintcra from the Gulf States to northern South 

 America. 



Washington, common T. V., Apt. 25 to May 25; July 20 to Sept Simr 

 Sing, tolerably common T. V., May 11 to '.'1 ; .Inly 23 to Oct 8. Cambridge, 

 very common T. V., May 8 to 25; Aug. 10 to Oct 10. 



A**, of moM, lined with tendril* and fine rootlet*, in a motwy bank or 

 under the rooU of a fallen tree. Eygt, four to five, white r burty white, with 

 numerous cinnamon- brown marking, chiefly about the larger end. 7'! x -59. 



In general habits thi-* l>ird resembles its southern relative, the 

 Louisiana Water-Thnish, but during its migrations it is frequently 

 found some distance from water, and I have known birds spend sev- 

 eral days beneath evergreen trees on a lawn a quarter of a mile from 

 the W(H!>. It i>, too. much less shy than molnrilln, and one can gen- 

 erally approach closely enough to take note of the characters which dis- 

 tinguish it fn.m that species a smaller bill and yellower under parts. 



I have heard it sing only as a migrant, when its song lacked the 

 wildness of that of &. motarill.i. 



