156 GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH. " 
: 
This is also a migratory species, arriving in Pennsylvania late in ' 
April, and leaving us again late in September. It is altogether an 
inhabitant of the woods, runs along the ground like a lark, and even 
along the horizontal branches, frequently moving its tail in the mar - 
ner of the Wagtails. It has no song, but a shrill, energetic twitter. 
formed by the rapid reiteration of two notes, peche, peche, peche, for > 
quarter of a minute atatime. It builds a snug, somewhat singula: 
nest, on the ground, in the woods, generally on a declivity facing th: 
south. This is formed of leaves and dry grass, and lined with hain. 
Though sunk below the surface, it is arched over, and only a smal” 
hole left for entrance: the eggs are four, sometimes five, white’ 
irregularly spotted with reddish brown, chiefly near the great end - 
When alarmed, it escapes from the nest with great silence anc 
rapidity, running along the ground like a mouse, as if afraid to tread 
too heavily on the leaves; if you stop to examine its nest, it also- 
stops, droops its wings, flutters, and tumbles along, as if hardly able - 
to crawl, looking back now and then to see whether you are taking” 
notice of it. Ifyou slowly follow, it leads you fifty or sixty yards off, 
in a direct line trom its nest, seeming at every advance to be gaining 
fresh strength; and when it thinks it has decoyed you to a sufficient 
distance, it suddenly wheels off and disappears. This kind of decep- 
tion is practised by many other species of birds that build on the 
round; and is sometimes so adroitly performed, as actually to have 
e desired effect of securing the safety of its nest and young. 
This is one of those birds frequently selected by the Cow-Pen 
Bunting to be the foster parent of its young. Into the nest of this 
bird the Cow Bird deposits its egg, and leaves the result to the mercy 
and management of the Thrush, who generally performs the part ot'a 
faithful and affectionate nurse to the foundling. ‘ 
The Golden-crowned Thrush is six inches long, and nine in extent ; 
the whole upper parts, except the crown and hind head, are a rich 
yellow olive ; the tips of the wings, and inner vanes of the quills, are 
dusky brown ; from the nostrils, a black strip passes to the hind head 
on each side, between which lies a bed of brownish orange ; the sides 
of the neck are whitish; the whole lower parts, white, except the 
breast, which is handsomely marked with pointed spots of black, or 
deep brown, as in the figure ; round the eye is a narrow ring of yel- 
lowish white; legs, pale flesh color; bill, dusky above, whitish below. 
The female has the orange on the crown considerably paler. 
This bird might with propriety be ranged with the Wagtails, its 
notes, manners, and habit of building on the ground being similar to 
these. It usually hatches twice in the season; feeds on small bugs 
and the larve of insects, which it chiefly gathers from the ground. It 
is very generally diffused over the United States, and winters in 
Jamaica, Hispaniola, and other islands of the West Indies. 
the true Thrush in perching high, and in possessing a sweet and pe song. 
We have, therefore, in shape, color, and some of the habits, an alliance to the: 
Thrushes, while the colors and their distribution agree both with Merula and An- 
thus, and in their principal economy a combination of the Sylviane and Motacil- 
lane, —altggether a most interesting form; while, in the structure of their nest, and _ 
the color of the eggs, they agree with the Wrens. Mr Swainson has made from’ 
it his genus Seirus. —En. 
