BIRDS OF 



species, under the name of Dendroica Palmarum Hypochrysea ; 

 the original Dendroica Palmarus of Gmelin being supposed to be 

 the plain colored form observed in the west. I have described 

 both, so that collectors may satisfy themselves as to whether 

 we have here the eastern form, or the western, or both. 



GENUS SEIURUS SWAINSON. 



269. SEIURUS AUROCAPILLUS (LINN.). 674. 

 Oven Bird. 



Crown orange-brown, bordered with two black stripes, no superciliary 

 line. Above bright olive-green ; below pure white, thickly spotted with 

 dusky on breast and sides ; a narrow maxiliary line of blackish ; under wing- 

 coverts tinged with yellow ; a white eye-ring ; legs flesh color. Sexes alike ; 

 young similar. Length, 5^-6^; wing, 3; tail, af . 



H AB. Eastern North America, north to Hudson's Bay Territory and Alaska ; 

 breeding from Kansas, the Ohio Valley and Virginia northward. In winter, 

 Southern Florida, the West Indies and Central America. 



Nest, on the ground, usually on a sloping bank, frequently roofed over 

 with an entrance at the side ; composed of twigs, leaves and moss, and lined 

 with fine grass and hair. 



Eggs, 4 to 5; creamy-white, spotted with reddish-brown. 



The Oven Bird, so called from its habit of building its nest 

 somewhat in the form of an oven, is a summer resident in 

 Ontario, and is very generally distributed, being found in suit- 

 able places all over the country, from the early part of May till 

 the beginning of September. To see it walking gingerly on the 

 ground, jerking itstail after the manner of the Tit Lark, conveys 

 the impression of a very quiet, retiring, little bird, with clear, 

 handsome markings, but should it mount to one of the middle 

 branches of a tree it is astonishing to observe with what 

 emphasis and energy it delivers its notes. With a little help 

 from the imagination its song resembles the word teacher, 

 frequently repeated with increasing emphasis. This loud, 

 clear call may often be heard in the moist woods during the 

 month of May, but the bird is said to have also another song 

 more soft and musical, which may be reserved for special 

 occasions, for I have not met with any one who has heard it. 



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