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THE YELLOW -BREASTED CHAT 



leaves, carefully wrapped, and within of fine grasses and horse-hair. Hggs, 3- 

 5, white, rather openly spotted or minutely speckled with reddish brown. Av. size, 

 .90 X .70 (22.9 X 17.8). 



General Range. — Eastern United States to the Plains, breeding north to 

 Ontario and southern New England ; south in winter to eastern Mexico, Guatemala, 

 Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. 



Range in Ohio. — Abundant in south and central Ohio, decreasing northerly. 

 In some northern localities rare. 



Tul;sii iiciij- i^'tiliinibus. 



THH HAUNT OF THE CHAT. 



Photo by Ihc Autlior 



IF there is a feathered oddity in America, it is the Yellow-breasted Chat; 

 and when you listen to his quaint medley of calls, caws, sc^uawks, pipings and 

 objurgations, )-ou almost feel that the scientists must be as queer as himself 

 for having placed him among the Warblers. Structurally he does belong to 

 this fainily, but his vocal performances are about as far from warbling as 

 midnight is from midday. 



His home is in the thickets along the border of the woods or in the un- 

 dergrowth of partial clearings. As you approach his haunt, you will hear 

 a low, querulous "Cook-cook-cook," suggesting a world of apprehension, as 



