230 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



earnest than those of any of our Eastern species, 

 and exhibit most astonishing- variations. Early in 

 the spring it begins with a low whistle, which it 

 changes to a very quaint and peculiar succession 

 of irregular notes as the season advances; some 

 of these notes are softly and gently uttered, while 

 others are produced with a vehemence and shrill- 

 ness truly remarkable for so small a species. The 

 following syllables will express with considerable 

 accuracy, the language of its song: tehlck- 

 tchick-a-tec-way-ah ; tch uka-wayoc ; tc hick-way -ah - 

 tchlcka-way-dc-tchick. Sometimes tchicka-way-dc- 

 tchuk pronounced in a clear mournful manner, 

 and so distinct as to be heard at a ^reat distance. 



<j 



Again, the following syllables have been occa- 

 sionally heard early in the morning: tcJiuck-chick 

 mea-cJiuck-cJiick-chcccccc-tcliick-twnrri. 



Like the subject of the preceding sketch, this 

 species combines in a remarkable manner the 

 attributes of the Paridce and Muscicapidtz. Its 

 agility in the procurement of food surpasses that 

 of Vireo olivaceiis. Beetles constitute a large 

 portion of its diet during its early stay; but, later, 

 various hymenopterous, dipterous, and lepidop- 

 terous insects, are devoured in immense numbers. 

 The following insects constitute a small portion of 

 its voluminous bill of fare: Donacia confliienta, 

 Chrysomela c&ruleipennis, Harpalus compar, among 

 coleoptera; Tabanns lineola, Syrphus obscurus, S. 

 obiiquus, Culex t&morhynchus, Tipula ferruginea, 

 dcmestica, among diptera; Apis mellijica, 



