THE PERcHING BirDs. 63 
will be found to have given way to boldness, and the 
wren-like habits otherwise are added to by a decided 
disposition to defend its own. Again, its song, of 
late, has a great deal of self-assertion in it, if loud, 
distinct utterance has any signification. I doubt if 
any crested tit or cardinal makes itself heard for a 
greater distance than 
travels the shriller 
notes of this warbler. 
While I have never 
seen these birds in the 
city, they do not hesi- 
tate to go into the Maryland Yellow-throat. 
good old-fashioned gardens in the country, however 
near the house they may be, and are quite disposed to 
forage on the sunny sides of cow-sheds and stables. 
I have found several nests in skunk-cabbage plants, 
and still wonder if they were placed there for protec- 
tion, for probably no animal is disposed to touch the 
plant if it can avoid it; but what of the sense of 
smell in the birds ? 
Classed as a warbler, but unlike them in every 
particular as we see the bird in nature, is that re- 
markable mimic and strange creature generally, the 
Yellow-breasted Chat. ‘“ The bird does not appear 
to winter anywhere in the United States; it breeds 
throughout its United States range.” 
According to the temperature, but never very early, 
in April, and sometimes not until May, does the chat 
appear in the Delaware Valley, and then he betakes 
himself immediately to a locality suited to his needs, 
and there he stays. They spend no days in sight- 
