On Birds observed in Amelia County, Virginia. 73 



ponds, some seasons much more so than others. The earliest I 

 have taken, was on the 10th of April. Its song is very peculiar, 

 though not musical, resembling " eete-wet-u," generally three 

 times repeated. It always remains near the ground, among the 

 thick low bushes. Its note of alarm is " cher-r," delivered in a 

 very wren-like manner, as it peeps at the intruder from the 

 thickest part of the cover. 



IcTERiA viRENS (Baird.) Yellotu-breasted Chat. — They come 

 every spring, and remain during the summer. The earliest 

 arrival I have noted was on the 30fch of April, and sometimes I 

 have not seen them until nearly the middle of May. It is a 

 handsome bird, and its song, though rather metallic, is not bad. 



Setophaga ruticilla (Swains.) American Redstart. — This 

 is another very handsome little bird. It prefers trees to low 

 bushes, and is generally seen at some height from the ground. It 

 arrives early in May, the first comers being single males. The 

 earliest I have noticed was on the 23rd of April. They pass 

 again in September in little families, but some remain throughout 

 the summer. Their song is rather metallic, and resembles 

 " d'way-de-de-da-le," repeated perhaps two or three times. 



Progne purpurea (Linn.) Fur^de Martin. — I have taken 

 the first purple martin on the 2nd May. They remain all the 

 summer, and are very common, especially frequenting the homestead, 

 where a box, like a small pigeon cot, is often erected on a pole 

 for them to nest in. They are encouraged to build near the 

 farmyard, in order that they may protect the poultry, by mobbing 

 any hawk which may come prowling about. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons (Baird.) Cliff Sivallow. — I have 

 only seen this bird once in Virginia. On 18th May, 1878, I 

 saw a single pair, hawking about for some time in company 

 with other swallows, of which large numbers were present at the 

 time. 



HiRUNDO HORREORUM (Barton.) American Barn-sivallow. — 

 This bird, which so forcibly reminds one of our own chimney 

 swallow, arrives in the first part of May, the 2nd of that month 

 being the earliest date on which I have noticed it. They remain 

 but a short time and then go on to the north. A few may be 

 seen returning in autumn, but they pass without stopping, and 

 one does not see so much of them as in spring. 



