OVEN-BIRD 169 



or more together. But five birds arrived on 

 May 14, 1907, and eight were seen on May 

 12, 1908, one other being on the Common. 

 Some of the visitants apparently make 

 a prolonged stay. One bird in 1900 was 

 noted daily from May 14 to 21, eight days; 

 another in 1904 from May II to 17, seven 

 days; another in 1905 from May 16 to 21, 

 six days; another in 1908 from May 13 to 

 19, seven days. The earliest appearance of 

 the species was on May 7, 1905, the most 

 delayed appearance on May 21, 1903. In 

 the seven other years between May 9 and 

 14 the first Oven-bird has come and been 

 followed by others in succession to May 

 21 to 26. The latest bird recorded remained 

 to May 29, in 1907. 



The song has been heard on many occa- 

 sions. In one instance the songster was in 

 shrubbery nearly opposite the Arlington 

 Street Church, and on a quiet Sunday 

 morning in May at an early hour earnestly 

 gave his crescendo song again and again. 

 Sometimes one has been seen to pursue 

 its sedate walk on the sidewalk outside of 



