124 
SYLVIA AUROCAPILLA. 
This is also a minratory species, arriving' in Petinsyl' 
vania late in April, and leaving us again late in 
tember. It is altogether an inhabitant of the woods> 
runs along the ground like a lark, and even along 
horizontal branches, frequently moving its tail iu 
manner of the wagtails. It Ims no song; but a slit'^ 
energetic twitter, formed by the rapid reiteration of t"'’ 
notes, peche, peche, peche, for a quarter of a minute 
a time. It builds a snug, somewhat singular nest, e® 
the ground, in the woods, generally on a declivih*' 
facing the south. This is formed of leaves and Ar1 
grass, and lined with hair. Though sunk below 1^*' 
surface, it is arched over, and only a small hole left /*’'' 
entrance ; the eggs are four, sometimes five, whil^’ 
irregularly spotted with reddish brown, chiefiy 
the great end. When alarmed, it escapes from 
nest with gre.at silence and rapidity, running along l/"' 
ground like a mouse, fis if afraid to treiid too heavil^ 
on the leaves ; if you stop to es.amine its nest, it 
stops, droo])s its >vings, flutters, and tumbles along. 
if hardly able to crawl, looking- back now and then 
see whether you are taking notice of it. If you slo'*’/* 
follou', it leads you fifty or si.xty yards off, in a dir^*'' 
line from its nest, seeming at' every advance to 
gaining fresh strength ; and ^vhen it thinks it 1’^ 
decoyed you to a sulTicieut distance, it suddenly whef'; 
off and disappears. This kind of deception is |)racti'‘’ 
by many other species of birds that build on the groun**’ 
and is sometimes so adroitly performed as actuallj’’ 
have the desired effect of securing the safety of its nc^ 
.and young. 
This is one of those birds frequently selected by 
cowpen bunting to be the foster jiarent of its youn?" 
In the nest of thLs bird the cow bird deposits its 
and leaves the result to the mercy and maiiiigeiuent "i 
the thrush, who generally performs the part of a faith’"* 
and affectionate nurse to the foundling. . 
The golden-crowued thrush is six'’iuches long, 
nine in extent; the whole upper parts, except / 
crowu and hind head, are a rich yellow olive ; the t’P” 
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