164 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



illy diminish in thickness toward the centre. 

 Another nest which we possess differs materially 

 in composition from the foregoing. It is composed 

 exteriorly of skeletonized leaves of Betula excelsa 

 in profusion, loosely arranged, and held in situ by 

 the small and nearly vertical branches between 

 which it is posited. Within, the inner bark of the 

 wild grape-vine sparingly, culms of grasses, small 

 sticks, and a soft lining of beech-leaves and slender 

 stems of grasses, are noticeable features. 



The breeding-period being past, it spends the 

 remainder of its time until its departure early in 

 September, in thick brier-bushes, and within close 

 hedges ; but occasionally forsakes such places for 

 cultivated fields. Now its song can be heard at 

 midnight, and frequently continues until daybreak. 

 The early departure of the Chat is not due to the 

 paucity of appropriate food-stuffs, but chiefly to its 

 remarkable susceptibility to cold. On rainy days 

 in August which are often attended with low ba- 

 rometric pressure, this species becomes so affected 

 in consequence, as to render it easy of capture. 



The eggs are four or five in number, rounded^ 

 oval in ishape, and marked with reddish-brown and 

 lilac spots upon a white and slightly yellowish 

 background. They average .88 of an" inch in length 

 and .68 in breadth. 



Subfamily Setophaginae. Flycatching Warblers. 



While many of the Sylvicolidce are dexterous in 



