OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 21 



veyed us without the slightest betrayal of fear or 

 alarm. After a few moments thus spent, the writer 

 stretched forth his hand, when with an air of the 

 most startling unconcern, it hopped carelessly 

 aside. Whilst in the pursuit of food, this Thrush 

 does not utter a single note. Its lack of m'V; 

 during the intervals of feeding, is one oi its i.^-^t 

 natural characteristics. In other species these 

 intervals are marked by occasional articulations of 

 short and apparently meaningless syllables. This 

 feature of the Hermit Thrush, constitutes it an 

 interesting exception to its exceedingly loquacious 

 brethren of the subfamily Turdince. 



Several years of experience have convinced us 

 that this species can by no means be considered 

 as rare in this latitude. Its sojourn with us 

 seldom exceeds the limit of a week, when it repairs 

 farther north to breed. On its return in the 

 autumn it frequents secluded situations, but its 

 stay is of short duration. 



Its food consists of the seeds of grasses and 

 various small beetles and diptera. The accompany- 

 ing list gives a correct and tolerably complete idea 

 of the coleopterous insects which constitute its diet 

 during its temporary sojourn. This list is based 

 upon careful examinations of many stomachs: 

 Diccelus dilatatus, Platynus cupripennis, Scarites 

 subterraneas, CratonycJms cincreus, C. pertinax, 

 Harpalus pensylvanicus, H. compar, Rhynchoeits pint 

 or Pine-weevil, Saperda bivittata or Apple-tree- 

 borer, and Corymbitcs sEthiops. Various species of 



