YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. 
69 
in a downward zig-zag direction, and, with admirable 
dexterity, snapping its bill as it descends. Its notes 
are few and feeble, repeated at short intervals, as it 
darts among- the foliage ; having at some times a resem- 
blance to the sounds sic, sic, sdic ; at others of weesy , 
weesy, weesy ; which last seems to be its call for the 
female, while the former appears to be its most common 
note. 
GENUS XVII. — IGTERIA, Vieill. 
81 . ICTERIA rililDIS, BONAPARTE PJPRA folyglotta, wils. 
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. 
WILSON, PLATE VI. FIG. II. 
This is a very singular bird. In its voice and manners, 
and the habit it has of keeping concealed, while shifting 
and vociferating around you, it differs from most other 
birds with which I am acquainted, and has considerable 
claims to originality of character. It arrives in Penn- 
sylvania about the first week in May, and returns to 
the south again as soon as its young are able for the 
journey, which is usually about the middle of August; 
its term of residence here being scarcely four months. 
The males generally arrive several days before the 
females, a circumstance common with many other of 
our birds of passage. 
When he has once taken up his residence in a favourite 
situation, which is almost always in close thickets of 
hazel, brambles, vines, and thick underwood, he becomes 
very jealous of his possessions, and seems offended at 
the least intrusion ; scolding every passenger as soon 
as they come within view, in a great variety of odd and 
uncouth monosyllables, which it is difficult to describe, 
but which may be readily imitated, so as to deceive the 
bird himself, and draw him after you for half a quarter 
of a mile at a time, as I have sometimes amused myself 
in doing, and frequently without once seeing him. On 
these occasions, his responses are constant and rapid, 
strongly expressive of anger and anxiety; and while 
