OVEN-BIRD, OR GOLDEN -CROWNED 

 THRUSH 



Center of crown orange-brown bordered with black 

 stripes; upper parts olive; under parts white, spotted or 

 streaked with black. Length, six inches. 



Nest, on the ground, made- of twigs, grass, leaves and 

 moss. The top is covered and the entrance is on the side. 

 Eggs, four to five, white, spotted with brovfn and lilac, .80 x .60 

 inches. 



This common bird is found in the forests of the United 

 States and Canada during the summer season, coming from 

 Florida and further south in April and returning again in 

 September. It is familiar to those who frequent the woods 

 where it lives and where it spends much of the time on the 

 ground, scratching among the leaves for the worms and insects 

 upon which it feeds. While thus engaged it often utters a 

 sharp cheep, cheep. 



When approached it runs quickly into the thick under- 

 brush making a clear view of it difficult to obtain. Occasion- 

 ally it mounts to a limb and sings or repeats in a shrill tone 

 with constantly increasing force what sounds like, teacher, 

 teacher, teacher. As it sings, it quivers in every feather from 

 the effort it makes to pour out its music. Sometimes it mounts 

 branch by branch to the very top of a tree from which it sud- 

 denly launches off into the air where, hovering on rapidly 

 vibrating wings, it bursts into a full, ringing song which both 

 surprises and delights the listener. 



Its nest is usually on the ground in the woods. Being 

 roofed over, it looks like a miniature, oM-fashioned out-door 



110 



