OVEN nii;i>. 13 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of seventeen specimens. Length, G-00; stretch, 9-73; wing, 3-01 ; tall, 2-22; bill, -49; 

 tarsus, -81. Longest specimen, G-M; greatest stretch of wings. 10-40; greatest length of wing, ;!-35; of tail, 3-10; 

 of bill. :>.">; of tarsus, -90. Shortest sj.i c -inien, 6-40; smallest stretch of wings, 9-45 ; smallest length of wing, 2-25 ; 

 of tail, 2-00; of bill, -45; of tarsus, -7". 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



\i-nt. composed outwardly of dried leaves and grasses, compactly interwoven, and lined with finer grasses. This 

 material is usually arranged so as to form a hollow cylinder, with a hole for entrance at the side. Dimensions. 

 External diameter, 5 inches; internal, 3 Inches. 



h'ljij*. lour or live in number, pure white, spotted and blotched throughout, but generally more thickly on the 

 larger end, with pale brown, liliic and umber. Form, rather round. Dimensions, from -"ox-oO to 80x-64. 



HABITS. 



Upon visiting Florida for the first time, one is surprised to hear the term "hummock" 

 applied to certain pieces of woodland, which appear Hat, and indeed, where in many cases the 

 ground is somewhat lower than the surrounding surface. This, to a northerner, to whom a 

 hummock means a small hill, seems a misnomer. After a time, however, the traveller becomes 

 accustomed to it, and. if he is ornithologically inclined, will learn to look upon the mass of 

 vegetation which it represents with great interest, for in them he will find many valuable 

 specimens. 



These hummocks are usually found along the streams or other bodies of water ; and as the 

 trees, of which they arc composed, grow thickly even ou the edge, they appear like islands 

 rising abruptly from the surrounding scrub, piny woods or savannas. They vary in size from 

 a few square rods to miles in extent. Upon entering them, one generally passes first through a 

 thicket of tangled briers and shrubs, which commonly grow among the trees on the margins of 

 all hummocks. Once through this and the collector finds himself in a dense wood, nearly free 

 from underbrush. He will pause here, if unaccustomed to such scenes, for everything appears 

 somewhat strange. Beside him stands a huge live oak with its immense trunk thickly covered 

 with parasitical ferns and orchids, of a delicate green, while upon the branches may be seen 

 large air plants, the drooping leaves of which are surrounded by long streamers of Spanish moss 

 that partly conceal them. Near by, a straight, smooth-barked magnolia raises its head ; while 

 the sweet gum, bay, black walnut and other trees stand so thickly around that their tops are 

 crowded together. The air is perfumed with the peculiar odor of the leaves of the prickly ash : 

 and, although it is midwinter, the green fronds of the filicex, which grow under foot, together 

 with the yellow flowers of the, climbing jessamine, that are seen on cither hand, give one to 

 understand that he is in a semi-tropical clime. 



Passing onward through this wonderful scene farther into the forest, he sees a deer suddenly 

 start up from a bunch of saw palmetto, which is near, and bound quickly away. Then perhaps 

 the startled pedestrian catches a glimpse of the yellow eye and tawny hide of a wild cat, as 

 with a loud snarl it rushes away to hide itself in the deeper woods; or the low, ominous cry 

 of the puma is heard, as he circles around the intruder, as if endeavoring to ascertain who 

 dares disturb his peace, but ever careful to keep at a respect I nl distance. All these sights and 

 sounds remind one that he is in a locality which is seldom disturbed by man. 



Few bird notes are heard in this shadowy wilderness, for the songsters are generally silent 

 at this season; therefore, the collector is obliged to use his eyes attentively. While so doing 

 be will perceive a small bird making its way quietly about on the ground. Upon closer 

 examination he will be surprised to find that it is the Golden-crowned Thrush, seemingly as 

 much at home as when in the groves of the North. They are quite numerous in Florida during 

 the winter, and are not to be found in pairs while here, but live singly, are very shy and 



