BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 3895 
SEIURUS AUROCAPILLUS (L.). (674.) 
OVEN-BIRD. 
For the relative numbers of its species generally, the Oven- 
bird is very common throughout the State from the Ist of May 
to the 20th of September, with occasional instances of in- 
dividuals remaining until far into October. It is only found as 
a general thing, in the most unfrequented places, near swamps, 
although I have met them in autumn in dry, densely wooded 
localites where it appeared very little disturbed by my pres- 
ence, keeping about its search for insects among the fallen 
leaves. However, its breeding habits confine it to the moist 
vicinity of swamps in or near the forests. Why this bird is 
dubbed with the unsentimental name ‘‘Oven-bird,’” is more 
than I can understand, for if from the form of its nest, we 
ought to have Oven-birds in several different genera of widely 
different families. I am sure that the Golden-crowned Thrush 
is far more appropriate, the colors, habits and form of the 
bird being so beautifully recognized by the name. 
The first nests of the season are begun by both birds about 
the 15th of May, others following into the first days of June. 
It is made of grasses and dry leaves into a very compact mass, 
with its entrance on the side, and so small as to render it a sur- 
prise that the bird can enter it. It is lined with fine, soft 
grasses and hairs of different kinds. They lay six creamy- 
white eggs, irregularly spotted or blotched with several shades 
of reddish-brown. As with so many other species, the larger 
end of the egg has the markings thickest, running into con- 
fluent patches in someinstances. 'The song of the bird is easily 
recognized by any one who has heard it, especially by its cres- 
cendo, beginning at a low pitch and increasing to remarkable 
fullness atits close. It ismore nearly expressed by the formula 
written, queecha, queecha, queecha, queecha, queecha, increasing 
in force and volume to the end.* Samuels says: ‘‘I have heard 
this song in the mating and incubating seasons, at all hours of 
the night. The bird seems, at that time, to ascend into the air 
to a considerable height, and utters its notes while hovering 
and slowly descending. I have noticed the same habit in the 
Maryland Yellow-throat, and some other birds.” I have never 
had the pleasure of hearing either of these species under such 
circumstances. 
*Birds of New England, p. 219. 
