324 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



with considerable noise, but seems rather shy unless one approaches 

 cautiously, when his curiosity overcomes his retiring disposition, and he 

 hops onto some near-by stump or bush to inspect the intruder. He is 

 very restless in disposition except when singing; then he chooses a fairly 

 elevated perch on top of a small tree, or occasionally 50 to 60 feet from 

 the ground, and gives himself up to his song, sometimes for an hour at 

 a time. Ernest Thompson-Seton has written this song, " Chuck, burr, 

 pill-a-will-a-willa-a," which is the best imitation yet invented. Tkere is, 

 however, considerable variation in the manner of its delivery, and on one 

 occasion I mistook a very poor performer of this species for an abnormal 

 Song sparrow. The call note or alarm note (I have never been able to 

 determine any distinction between the two) sounds like the word " che- 

 wink,'" often followed directly by the other call which has given him his 

 other name, " tow-hee," uttered in a rather sharp, incisive manner. He 

 usually flirts his tail as he utters the note and is almost sure to be bobbing 

 about among the bushes at the same time. 



The nest is placed on the ground or very near it, composed of dead 

 leaves and grasses and strips of bark, usually lined .with fine grass. 

 The eggs are 4 or 5 in number, white or grayish white, finely and evenly 

 speckled with reddish brown, sometimes with heavier spots about the larger 

 end. Average dimensions .97 by .71 inches. 



During the migration season the Chewink is frequently seen about 

 ■the gardens, dooryards and thickets in all our cities and villages, where 

 it is unknown at other seasons of the year. He is rather an attractive 

 bird with his conspicuous and sharply marked color pattern. He is a bene- 

 ficial species, very rarely taking enough berries from the gardener to be 

 considered a nuisance. The greater portion of his food consists of seeds, 

 wild fruits, and, in the stmamer time, a plentiful supply of insects. 



