346 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



The peculiar rustling of the leaves which we hear 

 in dense woods and, thick patches of brfer-bushes 

 on still days, is often due to its movements in 

 quest of food. Its common places of resort for 

 this purpose are among the leaves underneath 

 bramble-bushes and low growths of- hemlock- 

 spruce, where it remains for hours at a time. 

 While thus occupied, it is so intent upon its task, 

 as to be scarcely cognizant of intrusion. It is a 

 silent feeder. Its flight is low, but slightly sus- 

 tained, and with a kind of jerking undulatory 

 movement. Its ground-movements are character- 

 ized by notable agility. When disturbed, it seeks 

 safety in short flights, or accomplishes the same 

 purpose, by running. 



The call-note of the Chewink is a simple ko-reet, 

 uttered low, and at irregular intervals. When 

 frightened, or vexed by repeated annoyance, its 

 note then seems to resemble che-wlnk, pitched in 

 a rather high key, produced with a sharp, dis- 

 tinct articulation,, and repeated three times in 

 succession, when a lull ensues, to be followed by 

 a similar repetition. Its song may be expressed 

 by the following syllables which will be found to 

 differ somewhat from Nuttall's description:— ^'^c/«^ 

 fwiiee-U-te. 



Seeds, berries, and various insects, compose its 

 bill of fare. Among the former may be enumer- 

 ated the seeds of Abies canadensis, A. nigra, Lin- 

 aria canadensis, Ambrosia artemisicBfolia, A. triji- 

 dttm, Chenopodivm album, Amaranhis hybridns, 



