52 
N£STS AND EGGS OF 
During the hot and sultry hours of noon when other songsters have 
ceased their warhlings and foraging, and have slunk to the refreshing 
shades for comfort and security, our little friend continues to pour forth 
in loud, sonorous notes his peculiar te-te-tweah-we-ah-hveah-tiveah-tweet. 
Being the earliest of our vernal choristers, he is also the most constant 
and untiring, and continues to sing throughout the entire season. Even 
when about to depart for the smiling scenes of his southern home, he 
thrills the air of woodland and valley with impassioned song. 
His tender and pathetic utterances, which resemble the melodious 
notes of the Robin, but lacking their volume and power, are produced 
with so much apparent animation, judging from their sound, as to be in 
striking contrast to the seeming indifference or unconsciousness of the 
plain little vocalist wdio, while regaling the listener, appears all the while 
to be bent upon the procurement of his daily food, which he pursues wdth 
great ardor. But with the female the case is different. Although quite 
as active a feeder as the male, yet there is apparent none of that bustle 
and noise which characterize his movements. Her chief concern seems to 
be tbe satisfaction of hunger, and a studious avoidance of the male. 
But as the days multiply, and insect life becomes more common, 
which is generally the case about two weeks after their arrival, less 
anxiety is felt on account of food; consequently, more time is left for the 
development and play of the social forces. The sexes now begin to mani- 
fest less reserve and coolness, and instead of shunning each other, as was 
their wont, are brought more and more into friendly intercourse. A week 
or ten days later, and the way is paved for the assumption of matrimonial 
relations. In this movement, the male takes the lead. The female, some- 
what coy, at first listens to the wooings of her suitor at a wary distance, 
but as time progresses, soon learns to regard him in the light of a lover, 
throws off her restraint, and confidently advances to receive his caresses. 
And thus events follow each other in rapid succession until a union is 
effected. 
