OF NEW ENGLAND. 101 
autumn. They chiefly frequented the budding maples, the 
orchard-trees, and the shrubs and bushes which were just push- 
ing forth their young leaves; sometimes alone, more often in 
pairs, and less commonly in small parties of three and four. , 
They constantly skipped from twig to twig, much as a Chicka-~ 
dee does, often turning their heads in peculiar attitudes so as 
to reach the crannies behind the buds, and occasionally even 
hanging head downwards, the better to effect their purposes 
through their constant activity. They would often take short 
flights into the air in order to seize some passing insect, and 
then would immediately return to their former avocations, 
usually on the same tree. A great charm in the disposition of 
these pretty and graceful little birds was their entire fearless- 
ness of man, which was so absolute, that I many times was 
within two or three feet of them, even when I was not motion- 
less. The ‘Blue Yellow-backs,” whilst migrating, may also 
be found in the more open and lightly timbered woodland, but 
seldom among the pines. In their summer-homes they inhabit 
both the evergreens and hard-wood trees, wherever grouped 
in abundance, and very generally prefer the higher branches, 
where they build their nests (for they never, so far as I know, 
descend to the ground). These nests are beautiful objects, 
and very admirable architectural works, which distinguish their 
builders from all the other members, at least the American 
members, of their large family, the warblers ; for though nearly 
all of them build neat and pretty nests, none ever construct 
nests so striking in appearance as these, which are globular, 
with an entrance on one side. They are often suspended from 
the bough of a hemlock, and are usually composed of rather 
long Spanish moss, which is a very pretty material for nest- 
building. Wonderful must that instinct be which enables the 
little warblers to weave the long threads together with security 
and compactness, and finally to arrange them in the desired 
form that the globular shape may be so nearly perfected. From 
cases of which I have known, I have strong reason to believe 
that these nests in Massachusetts are sometimes, perhaps acci- 
dentally, not entirely rounded, but are left largely uncovered, 
