OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 181 



hovers about the head of the intruder evincing the 



o 



most intense anxiety and distress. 



Building operations are begun about the i5th 

 of May, the bulk of the work being performed by 

 the female. The nest is placed upon a horizontal 

 branch of the tulip-poplar or a species of Quercus 

 on the outskirts of a grove, or upon an apple-tree 

 in less sequestered situations. It takes but four 

 days to construct a nest, which is loosely put 

 together and scarcely survives the season for 

 which it is designed. Exteriorly, it is composed 

 of rude sticks, with an intermixture of weeds and 

 grasses; and is lined with roots, grass-stems, and 

 occasionally the inner bark of Castanea or Qnercus. 

 After the completion of the nest and the 

 usual complement of eggs is deposited, one 

 being laid a day, incubation ensues. This duty 

 devolves wholly upon the female. She is also 

 necessitated to provide her own nourishment. 

 The time spent in sitting is about 1 2 clays. 



The young are fed by the female principally. 

 Their food consists of the larva: of beetles and 

 lepidoptera, with mature forms of the same; 

 besides, spiders, earthworms, aphides, and diptera. 

 In about two weeks the you no- leave the nest, and 



J O 



in another week, they are thrown upon their own 

 resources. 



So susceptible to cold is this species, that in 

 unusually chilly weather, many have been known 

 to perish. We distinctly recall a season of unusual 

 cold in May. which succeeded very oppressive 



