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SYLVIA AUHOCAPILLA. 
This is also a migratory species, arriving in Pennsyl- 
vania late in April, and leaving us again late in Sep- 
tember. It is altogether an inhabitant of the woods, 
runs along the ground like a lark, and even along the 
horizontal branches, frequently moving its tail in the 
manner of the wagtails. It has no song; but a shrill, 
energetic twitter, formed by the rapid reiteration of two 
notes, peche , peclie , peche , for a quarter of a minute at 
a time. It builds a snug, somewhat singular nest, on 
the ground, in the woods, generally on a declivity 
facing the south. This is formed of leaves and dry 
grass, and lined with hair. Though sunk below the 
surface, it is arched over, and only a small hole left for 
entrance; the eggs are four, sometimes five, white, 
irregularly spotted with reddish brown, chiefly near 
the great end. When alarmed, it escapes from the 
nest with great silence and rapidity, running along the 
ground like a mouse, as if afraid to tread too heavily 
on the leaves ; if you stop to examine its nest, it also 
stops, droops its wings, flutters, and tumbles along, as 
if hardly able to crawl, looking back now and then to 
see whether you are taking notice of it. If you slowly 
follow, it leads you fifty or sixty yards off, in a direct 
line from its nest, seeming at every advance to be 
gaining fresh strength ; and when it thinks it has 
decoyed you to a sufficient distance, it suddenly wheels 
off and disappears. This kind of deception is practised 
by many other species of birds that build on the ground ; 
and is sometimes so adroitly performed as actually to 
have the desired effect of securing the safety of its nest 
and young. 
This is one of those birds frequently selected by the 
cowpen bunting to be the foster parent of its young. 
In the nest of this bird the cow bird deposits its egg, 
and leaves the result to the mercy and management of 
the thrush, who generally performs the part of a faithful 
and affectionate nurse to the foundling. 
The golden-crowned thrush is six inches long, and 
nine in extent ; the whole upper parts, except the 
crown and hind head, are a rich yellow olive ; the tips 
