OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. I 71 



nia chalcites, Donacia- confluenta^ Harpalus pcnsyl- 

 vanicus, and Platynus cupripennis. Besides coleop- 

 tera, our commonest ants and small spiders are 

 articles of diet. 



During its temporary sojourn, like many other 

 migrants, it does not resale us with a son<r; not 



o o o 



even a solitary call-note is it heard to utter. Its 

 song is heard in its more northern breeding-quar- 

 ters. In Massachusetts it is said to be very pleas- 

 ing, and heard very infrequently, and only in 

 certain places. 



There is no evidence that this species nidificates 

 in this latitude. Audubon affirms that it retires to 

 mountainous districts for this essential purpose. 

 It is not easy to assign suitable reasons for such 

 preference. An abundance of suitable diet, the 

 absence ot particular enemies, combined with force 

 of habit, may have determined its choice of localities. 

 The nest of this species according to Dr. Brewer, 

 was " built in a trussock of grass, in swampy 

 woods, concealed by the surrounding rank vege- 

 tation, in the midst of which it was placed." It is 

 described as being composed ot decayed leaves, 

 grapevine bark, fine stems, and rootlets in small 

 proportion, with an excess of pine-needles, the 

 whole being so loosely interwoven as to render 

 removal impracticable. It was nearly flat and 

 measured three and a half inches in diameter. Its 

 greatest depth in the centre of the cavity was 

 barely a half inch. This nest was obtained by 

 George O. Welch, Esq., in Lynn, Mass., in June, 



