ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 



note in the medley, and as suddenly there flashed out into the open with 

 a peculiar dropping flight, a chat. This was my first introduction. The 

 identification was not difficult for this versatile warbler is in a class by 

 himself. His song, actions and coloration placed him beyond question. 

 Each spring migration following had as part of its possibilities the further 

 acquaintance — often not realized — with this fascinating cosmopolite. A 

 friend who had studied the chat's choice of habitation quietly organized 

 a personally conducted search for a nesting place, and finally discovered 

 a pair breeding in an out of the way bottom land south of Willow Springs 

 in Cook County. In later years we occasionally saw a single bird during 

 migration, but its appearance would be casual and its stay short, as if 

 it was entirely accidental and not likely to occur again if it could be 

 avoided. 



It will be easy to understand my interest and delight when in late 

 June of this year I discovered the chat common and not at all shy, in the 

 foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Eastern Tennessee. In fact 

 he was familiarly known to the mountain people as the "mocking bird." 

 Almost anywhere in the luxuriant growth along the fences one might hear 

 the chat scolding, imitating, and then following with his own odd mellow 

 whistling notes, the latter in rapid succession and all on the same pitch. 



Here in the wonderful natural hedges of holly, stuartias, rhododendron, 

 and blackberry brier, draped with muscadine grape and the viciously thorny 

 catbrier, was the chosen home of this olive-backed, golden-breasted come- 

 dian, and here he might be seen and heard every day, self possessed, at- 

 tractive and altogether beautiful." 



Mr. Vandercook writes as follows : — 



"This species arrives here at Odin usually early in May. I have ob- 

 served them as early as April 26th and again none would be seen before 

 May 15th. They no doubt depart for their southern winter home very 

 early. I have never seen any after September 1st. They inhabit the dense 

 thickets of underbrush and briers and are very hard to be observed. Were 

 it not for the loudness and variety of notes, which this species has the 

 ability to render it might be entirely overlooked. As it is, by hearing its 

 notes one may by patiently watching locate the author and he may be seen 

 flying from one perch to another, all the while moving with a peculiar 

 jerking of the wings and tail and uttering some one of its notes. 



It nests in very dense thickets, usually from two to three feet above 

 the earth. The nest is a collection of tree leaves, weed stems, grass, grape 

 vine bark with an outside depth of 4*/£ inches, and diameter of 6 inches. 

 I have found nests as early as May 18th and as late as June 7th. From 

 three to five eggs are laid, usually only four. I have observed only two 

 nests containing five. They are white, inclined to be glassy. Some have 

 a pinkish coat with reddish brown or chestnut colored spots and 

 specks. Some of these markings are thicker and larger on the large end, 

 but generally they are distributed over the entire shell. The eggs vary 

 some in size but are on an average about .70 inches in diameter by .90 

 inches in length. The food of the Chat consists of insects and berries. 

 This species is imposed upon by the Cowbirds and I have found nests 

 deserted with no other visible reason only the intrusion." 



Other notes relating experiences with this most interesting bird will 

 be very acceptable to readers of this Bulletin. J. L. S. 



