272 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



has most of the manners and physiognomy of the whole 

 section or family to which he belongs. The nest being 

 formed in the hollow of a tree, the materials are conse- 

 quently scant, but somewhat novel ; being, according to 

 Catesby and Wilson, a little loose hay, and large feathers, 

 with hogs' bristles, dogs' hair, and pieces of cast snake- 

 skins, the last of which, though an extraordinary mate- 

 rial, is rarely wanting, its elastic softness forming a suita- 

 ble bed for the young. ^ The eggs are said to be 4, of a 

 dull white, thickly marked with scratches and purple 

 lines of various tints, as if laid on with a pen. The note 

 of the male appears often delivered in anger and impa- 

 tience, and he defends his retreat from the access of all 

 other birds with the tyrannic insolence, characteristic of 

 the King-bird. 



Towards the end of summer they feed on berries of 

 various kinds, being particularly partial to whortle-berries, 

 which, for a time, seem to constitute the principal food of 

 the young. They remain in Pennsylvania till about the 

 middle of September, when they retire to tropical Ameri- 

 ca. In July, 1831, I observed a pair in an orchard at 

 Acton, in this State (Mass.) They had reared a brood in 

 the vicinity, and still appeared very stationary on the 

 premises ; their harsh ^payup, and sometimes a slender 

 twittering as they took the perch, were heard almost 

 from morn to night, and resembled at first the chirp of a 

 young Robin. They fed on the caterpillars or vermin 

 of some kind which happened to infest the apple-trees. 

 I was told that it uttered a different and more musical 

 note about sunrise, but of this I cannot speak from my 

 own knowledge. They are unknown in the vicinity of 

 the sea-coast of Massachusetts. 



This species is 8.j^ inches long, and 13 in alar extent. Above, the 

 color is dull greenish olive ; the feathers of the head pointed, and 



