68 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



pini, Bostrichus pini, Chrysomela caruleipennis, 

 Buprestis lurida, among beetles, and Formica san- 

 guinea, among hymenoptera. 



Whilst feeding, the male keeps up his peculiar 

 nasal cry of konk-hdnk, repeating it at irregular 

 intervals as he climbs around the trunks and over 

 the branches of trees. 



In the spring when the tulip-poplar is in blos- 

 som, it is a constant visitor thereto, for the small 

 insects which have been attracted thither by the 

 honey of its flowers. Its cone-like seed vessels 

 are freely visited during the winter for the seeds 

 which they contain. It has 'been supposed by 

 some writers, that this species like, its European 

 congener, collects and stores away the fruits of 

 nut-bearing trees. This fact cannot be disputed 

 if we are to rely upon the statement of Mr. 

 Strouse, of Chestnut Hill. He informs us that 

 he has observed the fruits of various species of 

 Quercus very securely wedged in between the 

 bark and outer woody layers of trees, and Nut- 

 hatches in such positions as to lead to the suspi- 

 cion that they had placed them there. 



From many years of experience, we are satis- 

 fied that the species does not breed in our latitude. 

 We are told by Dr. Brewer that the birds labor 

 together in the construction of a cavity for a nest; 

 one carrying away the chips while the other is en- 

 gaged in the perforation, and vica versa. The nest 

 is not unfrequently placed at a depth varying from 

 i 5 to 20 inches, and is composed of warm and 



