1905 
May 25 
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Oven-birds have been very numerous the past few days* 
Some of them seem to be migrating,others settled and pre¬ 
paring to breed. I frequently come upon mated pairs in 
dense woods, flitting close to the ground, quivering their 
wings and making a low chirping or twittering te-te-te-te- 
te-te-te audible only a few yards away and suggesting the 
cries of a very young bird. They also use the common tsup 
note a good deal but they are singing only a very little now. 
A Least Flycatcher's nest, found yesterday by 
Gilbert, in the orchard behind our farm-house, is in a most 
unusual position: - -about seven feet above the ground, 
within eight inches of the extremit y of a slender , drooping 
branch of an apple tree. The branch extends out apart 
from any others and the nest is supported partly by it and 
also by a cluster of lateral twigs, the branch at this 
point being scarce thicker than a lead pencil. The nest 
is a large one and chiefly composed of whitish fibre and 
is not as yet concealed by any foliage. Indeed it is a most 
conspicuous object from every side. I saw the bird go to 
it twice to-day. When Gilbert found it an Oriole was 
tearing at it and the Flycatcher was trying to drive her 
• 
)2 
away 
