430 
INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 
of Maryland or Delaware, though, attracted by the great 
river courses, they are abundant from Pittsburg to New Or- 
leans. A few individuals stray, in the course ofthe spring, 
as far as the line of New York, and appear in New Jersey 
and the vicinity of Philadelphia early in the month of May. 
On the 17th of April, returning from a Southern tour of 
great extent, I again recognised my old and pleasing 
acquaintance, by his usual note, near Chester on the Del- 
aware, where, I have little doubt, a. few remain and pass 
the summer, retiring to the South only as the weather 
becomes inclement. On the banks of the Patapsco near 
Baltimore their song is still heard to the close of Novem- 
ber. According to Audubon, the nest of this bird is 
usually placed in a hole in some low and decayed tree, 
or in a fence-post ; sometimes also in a stable, barn, or 
out-house. The materials employed are hay, dry grass, 
and leaves, for the outer part ; with a lining of horse- 
hair, or the capillary dry fibres of the Long-moss ( Tillan - 
dsio). Sometimes the nest is 5 or 6 inches deep, but, 
with the usual precaution of the family, so narrow in the 
entrance as only to admit of one of the birds at a time. 
The eggs, 5 to 8, are oval, and greyish-white, spotted 
with reddish-brown. Like the common species, an in- 
dividual (probably one of the young birds) has been 
observed to roost for a time in an old Wood Thrush’s 
nest which had been filled with fallen leaves. They are 
so prolific as to raise two, and sometimes three broods in 
a season. 
Our bird has all the petulance, courage, industry, and 
familiarity of his particular tribe. He delights to survey 
the meanders of peaceful streams, and dwell amidst the 
shady trees which adorn their banks. His choice seems 
to convey a taste for the picturesque and beautiful in 
nature, himself, in the fore-ground, forming one of the 
