314 NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND BIRDS 



wander further from what I have called my home — 

 to the home which is forever inviting me. In such an 

 hour the freedom of the woods is offered me, and the 

 birds sing my dispensation. 



June 9,1855. Ache wink's nest sunk in ground under 

 a bank covered with ferns, dead and green, and huckle- 

 berry bushes ; composed of dry leaves, then grass stub- 

 ble, and lined with a very few slender, reddish moss 

 stems; four eggs, rather fresh; merely enough moss 

 stems to indicate its choice. 



May 17, 1858. I see a chewink flit low across the 

 road with its peculiar flirting, undulating motion. 



Sept. 19, 1858. Hear a chewink's chewink. But how 

 ineffectual is the note of a bird now ! We hear it as if 

 we heard it not, and forget it immediately. In spring 

 it makes its due impression, and for a long time will 

 not have done echoing, as it were, through our minds. 

 It is even as if the atmosphere were in an unfavorable 

 condition for this kind of music. Every musician knows 

 how much depends on this. 



[See also under Nighthawk, p. 209; Wood Thrush, 

 p. 378; General and Miscellaneous, pp. 404, 414.J 



BOSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK 



June 13, 1853. What was that rare and beautiful 

 bird in the dark woods under the Cliffs, with black 

 above and white spots and bars, a large triangular 

 blood-red spot on breast, and sides of breast and be- 

 neath white ? Note a warble like the oriole, but softer 

 and sweeter. It was quite tame. I cannot find this bird 



