94 THE CITY CrF THE BIRDS. 



plan, or on* that of any of our common warblers. 

 It has certain distinctive features which are 

 almost as plainly exhibited as the peculiarity of 

 colors, toes and tarsi of the builder herself, if she 

 were stretched upon a dissecting board for our 

 inspection. Yet it is beyond a doubt the work of 

 some member of the family Sylvicolidce. Which 

 one.'' I asked, as I sat watching, half concealed 

 behind a neighboring bush. It is evidently a 

 timid and suspicious one, at least, for an hour 

 passes and still the bird can not be named. Once 

 or twice I hear a sharp "chip," a violent bird 

 oath, which clearly and forcibly expresses alarm 

 and displeasure at seeing such an uncivil intruder; 

 and catch just the glint of a pair of wings, as 

 they flutter between me and the glare of the 

 sunlight, amidst the thick foliage of the shrubs. 



How surely blood tells, even with the birds ! 

 The majority of our common species have come 

 to understand mankind, and are quite used to his 

 ways. The chestnut-sided yesterday stuck like a 

 little Trojan to her nest, as I bent over her, and 

 no doubt I could have fed her with flies, as Mr. 

 Torrey did his white-eyed vireo ; but this tiny 

 feathered recluse, whatever her name, has the 

 true wildness of Nature running in her veins. 

 She does not like to be interviewed, and "there is 

 a kind of magic in her actions which stupefies 

 your powers of observation." Patient waitings 



