NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 379 



in the earth amongst leaves, at the foot of a tree or bush near a fallen 

 log, or under the shelter of tall grass in woods. On the whole, it is 

 loosely constructed of skeleton leaves, grasses, strips of wild grape 

 vine bark, slender weed stalks, with a lining of finer grasses and often 

 horse hair. The bird is known by other names, such as Golden-crowned 

 Thrush, Golden-crowned Wag-tail Warbler, and Golden-crowned 

 Accentor. An abundant species in the woods of Eastern North Amer- 

 ica, where it is found breeding from Kansas, the Ohio Valley and Vir- 

 ginia northward into the Arctic regions in the months of May, June 

 and July, according to latitude and season. 



In the United States the nesting time is chiefly in the latter half 

 of May and June. The birds inhabit dry and wet leafy woods, and 

 seem to be partial to those through which a small stream flows, and 

 where wild vines climb to the upper branches of trees whose foliage 

 throws darkened shadows beneath. In these retreats, during the mating 

 season, the bird's incessant, emphatic crescendo chant may be heard. It 

 is repeated with such vehemence that it is really startling in solitary 

 woods. 



The eggs of the Oven-bird are four or five in number, rarely six. 

 Their color is white or creamy-white, more or less glossy, and the mark- 

 ings are in the form of specks and spots, often sparsel}* scattered over 

 the entire surface, but usually more heavily marked at the larger ends, 

 and frequently wreathed. The color of the markings is reddish-brown 

 of various shades and lilac-gray. Ten specimens measure .70X.59, 

 .74X.57, .72X.59, .76X.58, .79X .60, .79X .63, .80X.62, .82X.62, .84x63, 

 .82X.61. A common size in a large series is .78 X. 58. Though well con- 

 cealed and hard to find by the collector, the nest of this species often 

 contains the eggs of the notorious Cowbird. Mr. Lynds Jones found 

 a nest near Grinnell, Iowa, containing no less than five eggs of the 

 Cowbird. 



675. Seiurus noveboracensis (Gmel.) [ii6.] 



■Wator-Thrnisli. 



Hab. Eastern North America as far west as the Mississippi Valley. Breeds from the Northern 

 United States northward; south in winter to the Gulf States, West Indies, Northern South America. 



The Small-billed Water-thrush, New York i\ccentor, or Wag-tail 

 Warbler breeds from Northern United States northward. It frequents 

 swampy woods and open, wet places, nesting on the ground or in the 

 roots of overturned trees at the border of swamps. It is more or less 

 abundant in all suitable places in the New England States and New 

 York. It has been found breeding in Northern Illinois and, in Iowa, 

 near Des Moines, according to Messrs. Keyes and Williams, a female 

 was seen feeding its young in June, 1884. A common summer resident 



