448 NE8T8 AND EGGS OF 



Dy other names, such as Golden-crowned Thrush, Golden- 

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

 j^n abundant species in the woods of Eastern North Amer- 

 ica, where it is found breeding from Kansas, the Ohio Val- 

 ley and Virginia northward into the Arctic regions in the 

 months of May, June and July, according to latitude and sea- 

 son. In the United States the nesting time is chiefly in the 

 674. Oven-bird. 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 markings are in the form of specks and spots, 

 often sparsely 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, .84x.63, .82x.61. A common size in a 

 large series is .78x.58. Though well concealed and hard to find by the collector, the 

 nest of tills species often contains the eggs of the notorious Cowbird. Mr. Lynds 

 Jones ,;found "a nest near Griiineil, Iowa, containing no less than five eggs of the 

 Cowbird. 



> 675. . WATEB-THBUSH:. Seiurus noveboraoensis (Gmel.) Geog. Dist.— East- 

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

 XJnited States northward; south in winter to the Gulf States, West Indies, Northern 

 South America. 



The small-billed Water-thrush, New York Accentor, 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 in Manitoba. Mr. M. K. Barnum, 

 of Syracuse, New York, found a nest of this species in the roots of a tree at the edge 

 of a swamp, on May 30. It was well concealed by the overhanging roots, and the 

 cavity was nearly filled with moss, leaves and fine rootlets. The nest at this date 

 contained three young and one egg. The eggs of this species are four or five in 

 number.. Two sets are in Mr. Norris' cabinet; one taken near Listowel, Ontario, 

 from a nest under a stump in a swamp, on June 7, 1888; the other set is from New 

 Canada, Nova Scotia, and was -taken July 30, 1886. The nest was built in moss 

 on the side of a fallen tree. They are creamy- white, speckled and spotted, most 

 heavily at the larger ends, with hazel and lilac, and cinnamon-rufous; in the last 

 mentioned set forming wreaths near the larger ends. Their sizes are .78x.54, .78x.56, 

 .77x,55, .77X.54; .78x:61, .78x.63, .77x.60, .77x.59 inches. 



675a. GBIHNEIiL'S WATEB-THBUSH. Seiurus novebordcensis notabilis 

 Ridgw. Geog. Dist.— Western United States,- from Indiana and- Illinois westward to 

 California, and north IntO' British Anlerica. Casual in migrations eastward to the 



