312 Bird -Lore 



busily engaged, uttering their various calls from time to time. At this season of 

 the year, the Creeper gives two songs, one far less rasping than its common 

 wee-see, wee-see, wee-see. Should there happen to be a bevy of young Creepers 

 about, their notes might so much resemble those of a soft-toned Chipping 

 Sparrow as to deceive one unaccustomed to them. 



Flitting about in the highest branches of the locust were Baltimore Orioles, 

 mostly silent except for a lisping call-note or brief chatter, in striking contrast 

 to their full-throated, ringing whistles uttered in mating-time. Dropping in 

 with them for a brief survey of the available food-supply on and in the weather- 

 worn locust were a late-nesting pair of Chickadees, than whom no bird friends 

 are more dear or constant. Just how frequently the pewee song of this species 

 is given as compared with its chick-a-dee-dee note throughout the year, would be 

 an interesting point to observe. Heard in the evergreen woods of more north- 

 ern localities against the high, flute-like notes of the White- throated Sparrow, 

 the Chickadees' plaintive song takes on a distinctly minor character, but here 

 by the shore, in the open covers of the locust, the ear noted only major cadences. 



The Yellow Warbler shows brilliantly against the soft, waving, green leaves 

 of the locust in the sunlight, but on this wet morning one would never have 

 suspected that it had any color aside from green. For a week or more during 

 midsummer, the penetrating song of this Warbler suddenly stops, when only 

 the keenest eye can detect the molting bird tucked away in some shady nook, 

 moping and evidently far from its normal vivacity. The Yellow- throated, Red- 

 eyed and occasionally a White-eyed Vireo frequented the locust and neigh- 

 boring shrubs, although the presence of all three on this particular morning 

 cannot be affirmed. It is always a pleasure to train the ear by timing the 

 number of phrases given per minute by the different Vireos. Should one luckily 

 discover their nests, there is an added pleasure in detecting minute differences 

 in the shape and construction of them as well as in the materials used in mak- 

 ing them. The call-notes of young Vireos, either in or just out of the nest, add 

 another point of interest to these leaf-frequenting species. 



In the lilacs and syringas under the locust. Catbirds abounded, singing less 

 and less and uttering their notes in more whispered tones with the advance of 

 surnmer, while from the woods to the west the call of the Wood Thrush was 

 heard most frequently in the early, dewy morning or toward dusk. Now and 

 then the note of an Oven-bird might be heard, although, after early July, this 

 species is seen much oftener than heard. If not too busy a thoroughfare, it 

 may even be found along the roadside, where overshadowing trees are thickest. 

 Goldfinches, now setting about mating and nest-building, gave deliciously 

 sweet call-notes, as they kept unremittingly at their task of selecting a suitable 

 site for their home and a suitable food-supply. Back and forth on undulating 

 wing, these beautiful songsters constantly engaged the eye as well as the ear 

 of the observer. 



With Chimney Swifts and Barn Swallows twittering and gyrating overhead, 



