26 HEGULUS 8ATRAPA. 



HABITS. 



While visiting the region about Lake Umbagog, in Maine, during the first week in June, 

 1871, in company with Messrs. Deane & Brewster, I was very much surprised to find this 

 little species very common. It inhabits the thick woods, and although the birds were 

 generally invisible, we could hear their peculiar song which consists of a series of low, sharp 

 chirps terminated by a lisping warble. They were probably singing for the benefit of their 

 mates which evidently had nests near. Indeed, we shot two or three females that bore 

 unmistakable marks of incubating and saw others which exhibited considerable solicitude 

 whenever we approached certain trees, hopping distractedly about, sounding their querulous 

 alarm notes ; in fact, betraying by every movement that their eggs were near. They who have 

 visited those dark evergreen woods, will understand the extreme difficulty of finding nests that 

 are built in thick hemlock or spruce trees ; for >. the limbs are so densely covered with foliage 

 that it is almost impossible to discern any object among them. Add to this the long hanging 

 moss, which clings to the branches in great abundance, growing even on the ends of the twigs, 

 and we have a mass of vegetation which the little Golden-crowned Wren chooses for a breeding 

 place. The weather at the time of our visit was insufferably hot, and although the air in the 

 woods was close, being nearly suffocating, we were obliged to force our way over the heaps 

 of fallen trees and through the swamps, which abound in the wilderness of Northern Maine. 

 Besides all this we were so tormented with the myriads of black flies and mosquitoes, that 

 it was almost impossible to remain quiet a moment. It was under these circumstances that we 

 came upon the localities where the Kinglets were breeding ; but in defiance of all obstacles we 

 searched long and faithfully for the nests as we were naturally anxious to obtain a specimen, 

 knowing that it had never been discovered. We even ascended several trees that we were 

 confident contained it; but our most careful scrutinies' proved fruitless, and the nest still 

 remains unknown. It is highly probable that the sagacious birds had artfully concealed the 

 diminutive structures in the streamers of moss, after the manner of the Blue Yellow-backed 

 Warbler. We had the satisfaction of knowing, however, if it can be called satisfaction, that 

 we had probably been nearer the uufound treasures than other ornithologists. In summer, the 

 birds remain in pairs, or in small parties after the young are fledged ; but in autumn they 

 gather in flocks, associating with the Warblers and other small species.. About the middle 

 of October they begin to migrate southward, and arrive in Massachusetts during the latter 

 part of the above named month. Many pass on further south, but some remain all winter. 

 These may be found everywhere upon their arrival, but as it becomes colder, they retire to the 

 woods and cedar groves, where they spend the extreme cold weather ; apparently as contented 

 when the thermometer stands at zero as in summer. One can scarcely conceive how such little 

 morsels of flesh and blood can avoid freezing to death during some of the intensely cold nights 

 of midwinter, when many of the larger species perish ; or how they manage to maintain 

 themselves through protracted snow storms. A large number must die, and the only wonder 

 is that any attempt to withstand a climate so rigorous. In mild days they emerge from their 

 wooded fastnesses and visit the orchards or farm-yards. They are always lively little birds 

 and as they hop nimbly from twig to twig, in search of the eggs and larvre of insects, which 

 form their only food at this season, amuse themselves by frequently uttering a short lisping 

 song. Although they winter in large numbers in most of the Southern States, I have met with 

 them but once in Florida. This was in December, 1868, when I took two specimens in a 

 hummock ; they were accompanying a large flock of Warblers, Titmice, etc. About the 

 middle of April they migrate northward, and by the 10th of May they have all passed 

 Massachusetts. 



