354 CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



A little later in the season the number of individuals increases, 

 and there is no trouble in finding them almost anywhere in the 

 heavily shaded parts of the forest, for it is to such localities that 

 the bird confines itself. Most of its time it spends upon the 

 ground, sedately walking not hopping about among the dry 

 fallen leaves of the previous year, where it searches for the in- 

 sects that constitute its principal food. Ever and anon it will fly 

 up into a tree, or into the underbrush, and give vent to its monot- 

 onous notes, which may be heard at a considerable distance 

 away. This may be during the very middle of the day, when, as 

 a rule, the notes of all other songsters are hushed, so it can be 

 the more appreciated, relieving as it does the otherwise silent 

 forest. Often, when upon the horizontal branch of a tree, it will 

 walk along it, with lateral movements of its tail, in precisely the 

 same manner as it assumes when upon the ground. 



The Oven-bird has an average length of about six inches, with 

 a coloration of plumage that reminds one of some of the smaller 

 thrushes. The top of its head (adult male), has a broad longi- 

 tudinal stripe of orange-rufous, bounded upon either side by a 

 narrower one of blackish. These latter start from the nostrils, 

 and are carried backward to the neck. Either eye is surrounded 

 by a pale whitish ring, bounded in front by a semicircular one 

 of dusky. A small black stripe likewise bounds the white throat 

 upon either side. Above, the bird is greenish olive, while below 

 it is pure white, with the breast and sides streaked with blackish 

 feathers. Its feet and lower bill are of a pale horn-color, while 

 the superior mandible is darker. 



In my son's collection I find a number of specimens of this 

 species collected by him and myself near Washington, D. 0., and 

 it is from an adult male of these that I have made the aboA'e 

 brief description. We have also taken the young most rest- 

 less and nervous little fellows that I failed to obtain any pho- 

 tographic pictures of, although several attempts were made. 

 Owing to the careful manner in which it is concealed, it is by no 

 means a common occurrence to find a nest of the Oven-bird, and I 

 believe I have never found more than four of them altogether 

 in my life. Near my home in Takoma, however, this spring 

 (1897), iny son and I met with a very beautiful example of the 

 nest of Siurus, it being situated as usual upon the ground, and 

 on a side hill of gentle slope. It was in the timber-land, com- 

 posed of scattered poplars, oaks, and chestnuts, with a sparse 

 undergrowth of a variety of shrubs and young trees. 



