254 G O L D E N - C R O W N E D T H R U S H .
times among the roots of a tall tree, sometimes by the side of a fallen
trunk, and again at the foot of some slender sapling. It is sunk in the
ground among dry leaves or decayed moss, and is neatly formed of grasses,
both inside and out, arched over with a thick mass of the same material,
covered by leaves, twigs, and such grasses as are found in the neighbourhood.
A small aperture is left on one side, just sufficient to admit the
owner. In this snug tenement the female deposits from four to six eggs,
which are white, irregularly spotted with reddish-brown near the larger
end.
When accidentally disturbed at the period of incubation, it glides
over the ground before you, and uses all sorts of artifices to decoy you
from its nest. Several species of snakes and small quadrupeds are its
principal enemies. From children it has little to dread, its gentleness securing
it a place in their affections, so that they seldom molest it.
While on wing it appears to glide through the woods with ease and
celerity, although it seldom extends its flight to more than a hundred
yards at a time. It migrates by day, resorting at night to the deepest
swamps. In these situations I have met it in company with the Cat Bird
and other Thrushes. When disturbed on such occasions, its simple
tweet was familiar to my ear. None remain in the United States during
winter, although some are found lingering in the lower parts of Louisiana
as late as the first of December.
The plant on which I have placed a pair of them, grew near the spot
where I obtained the birds, in a dark wood not far from Philadelphia.
TURDUS AUROCAPILLUS, Lath. Ind. Oniith. vol. i. p. 328.
GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH, TURDUS AUROCAPILLUS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. ii.
p. 88. pL 17- fig. 2—Nuttall, Manual, part ii. p. 355.
SYLVIA AUROCAPILLA, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 77.
SEIURUS AUROCAPILLUS, GOLDEN-CROWNED ACCENTOR, Swains, and Richards. Fauna.
Bor. Amer. part ii. p. 227.
Adult Male. Plate CXLIII. Fig. 1.
Bill shortish, nearly straight, subulato-conical, rather broader than
deep at the base, compressed towards the end, the edges sharp and a little
inflected, the dorsal outlines of both mandibles slightly convex. Nostrils
basal, elliptical, lateral, half-closed by a membrane. The general
form is slender. Feet of ordinary length ; tarsus compressed, slender,
covered anteriorly with a long undivided piece, and three inferior
G O L D E N - C R O W N E D T H R U S H . 255
scutella, sharp behind; toes scutellate above, free; claws slender, compressed,
acute, arched.
Plumage soft and blended. Wings of ordinary length, the second
and third quills almost equal, the third longest. Tail short, slightly emarginate,
of twelve pointed feathers.
Bill dusky above, flesh-coloured beneath. Iris brown. Feet very
light flesh-coloured and transparent. The general colour of the plumage
above is greenish-brown, the crown brownish-orange, with two lateral
lines of brownish-black spots. The lower parts are white, the throat with
two lateral lines of brownish-black, and the lower neck, fore part of the
breast, and the sides marked with triangular spots of the same.
Length 6 inches, extent of wings 9 ; bill along the ridge f | , along
the edge \ | ; tarsus f | .
Adult Female. Plate CXLIII. Fig. %
The female resembles the male, but is somewhat lighter, with the
crown paler. The dimensions are nearly the same.
THE WOODY NIGHTSHADE.
SOLANUM DULCAMARA, Willd. Sp. PI. vol. i. p. 1027. Purslu F L Amer. Sept. vol. i.
p. 158.—PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA, Linn.
This species is found in the woods, as well as along the margins of
cultivated land, and is one of those common to both continents.