40 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



The male-parent during- the breeding season is 

 bold and daring, and wreaks instant vengeance 



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upon any feathered creature whom presumption 

 and curiosity may have brought within his territory. 

 Both parents are extremely fond of their progeny, 

 and sedulous in their attentions. 



The larvae of beetles and lepidoptera constitute 

 their early diet. The grubs of Lacknosterna 

 qiicrcina, L. hirticnla, Cratonychus cincrcns, Cotalpa 

 lanigera, and the caterpillars of Anisopteryx vcr- 

 nata, Eufitchia ribearia, Gortyna zca>, Picris rape?, 

 with mature forms of Tortricids and Tineids, dip- 

 tera, and the ordinary earthworm, are notable ar- 

 ticles of food for the young. 



We have never known more than a single brood 

 to be raised in a season. The younp- are the 



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objects of parental care long after they are 

 able to supply their own necessities. 



The eggs are ordinarily four, sometimes five in 

 number; but never more, according to our ex- 

 perience. The ground-color is white, and marked 

 with reddish-brown spots which are confluent at 

 the larger end. In some specimens these dots 

 constitute a broader annulns around the crown. 

 Dr. Brewer affirms that the ground-color is some- 



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times a light green. We have never observed 

 this variety in the many specimens which we have 

 seen and examined. Their length varies from 



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.98 to 1. 1 2 inches, with a mean of 1.05. Their 

 breadth ranges from .77 to .87 of an inch; the 

 mean being .82. 



