OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA! l8l 



hovers about the head of the intruder evincing the 

 most intense anxiety and distress. 



Building operations are begun about the i5th 

 of May, the bulk of the work being performed by 

 the female. The nest is placed upon a horizontal 

 branch of the tulip-poplar or a species of Quercns 

 on the outskirts of a grove, or upon an apple-tree 

 in less sequestered situations. It takes but four 

 days to construct a nest, which is loosely put 

 together and scarcely survives the season for 

 which it is designed. Exteriorly, it is composed 

 of rude sticks, with an intermixture of weeds and 

 grasses; and is lined with roots, grass-stems, and 

 occasionally the inner bark of Castanea or Quercus. 

 After the completion of the nest and the 

 usual complement of eggs is deposited, one 

 being laid a day, incubation ensues. This duty 

 devolves wholly upon . the female. She is also 

 necessitated to provide her own nourishment. 

 The time spent in sitting is about 1 2 days. 



The young are fed by the female principally. 

 Their food consists of the larvae of beetles and 

 lepidoptera, with mature forms of the same; 

 besides, spiders, earthworms, aphides, and diptera. 

 In about two weeks the young leave the nest, and 

 in another week, they are thrown upon their own 

 resources. 



So susceptible to cold is this species, that in 

 unusually chilly weather, many have been known 

 to perish. We distinctly recall a season of unusual 

 cold in May, which succeeded very oppressive 



