188 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



Its oven-shaped nest is not readily seen among the dead 

 leaves, of which the exterior is made. The crescendo chant is 

 one of the characteristics of some woods. The bird's dress so 

 hamonizes with the environment that the chant may well 

 be considered a spirit chant coming from everywhere and 

 nowhere. The birds seldom mount high in the trees, but 

 remain near the ground, walking about as any civilized bird 

 should. 



The Oven-bird reaches Oberlin near the 24th of April, 

 sings until July 10, rarely later, and leaves us for the south 

 during the last week of September, sometimes later. 



263. (675.) SEIURUS NOVEBORACENSIS (Gmel.). 55. 

 Water-Thrush. 



Synonyms: Siurus naevius, Sylvia noveboracensis, Turdus nove- 

 boracensis, Motacilla nsevia, M. noveboracensis. 

 Water Wagtail, Water Thrush, Small-billed Water-Thrush, 

 Bessy Kickup, River Pink, Aquatic Accentor, New York 

 Aquatic Thrush. 



Kirtland, Ohio, Geol. Surv., 1838, 163, 181 (part). 



This warbler is hardly common in most sections of the 

 state. It is sometimes almost so at Oberlin, for a few days 

 in spring. Like the other members of this genus it is a 

 lover of damp places, preferring those that are somewhat 

 swampy, while with us. I have never seen it higher up in 

 the trees than ten feet, and then only when it was greatly 

 disturbed. Its wild ringing song is given from a low perch 

 or from the ground. When being pursued the bird has a 

 habit of darting off and returning behind the pursuer or 

 silently running ahead several rods and flitting close to the 

 ground to appear far at one side. The quest is a nerve- 

 wearing one, but if once in a dozen times you see the bird 

 a moment before he glides away that is reward enough. You 

 don't wish to have all birds perch on your nose ! 



The Water-Thrush reaches Oberlin about the 3d of May 

 and passes north with trie warbler host about May 22. It 

 returns during the early days of September and remains un- 

 til the 1st of October. 



