68 Land Birds of New England 



months, and a few. remain through the summer. At 

 migration times it is not especially shy, and may 

 readily be approached. It is almost always on the 

 ground, where, unlike most birds, it walks instead 

 of hopping. Another peculiarity is its habit of 

 jerking its tail upward with every few steps. Still 

 another unusual habit is that of wading in the shal- 

 lows, where it seeks aquatic insects. 



The nest is usually built on or near the ground 

 in the neighborhood of water, but at this season the 

 bird is very shy. Eggs are laid about the first of June. 



The song is described by Coues as " beginning 

 with a sudden, almost startling, burst of melody 

 that . . . keeps falling till the slightest breath of 

 air may blow the rest away." 



According to Bicknell, the bird is in full song 

 during the spring migration, and is ordinarily, 

 though probably not invariably, silent in the fall. 



22. OVEN BIRD; GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH 



(JSeiurus aurocapillns.) 



Upper parts uniform olive-green ; crown with orange-brown patch 

 bordered on the sides with black ; under parts white, breast and 

 belly marked with large dark-brown spots. Beak and feet pale. 

 Bird nearly the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar. 



THIS" pretty and attractive lit.tle bird comes to us 

 early in May, and leaves us again in late Septem- 



