OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 1 87 



not entirely performed by the female as stated 

 above ; it lasts for a period of 1 1 days. The male 

 is a very dutiful husband and administers most 

 faithfully ta his partner's wants. The young are 

 objects of special parental regard. Their food 

 consists of various diptera, aquatic larvae, and 

 small lepidoptera. We have never known more 

 than one brood to be raised in a season. The fact 

 that some t birds are later breeding than others, 

 has, doubtless, given rise to the impression that in 

 some sections the species is double-brooded. The 

 young are able to vacate the nest in about 14 clays 

 after breeding; and in a week or ten days more 

 are prepared to attend to their own wants. 



We have found the remains of the following in- 

 sects in the stomachs of the many individuals which 

 we have examined: Miisca domestica, Tabamis 

 lineola, Tabanus cinchis, Syrphus obscurus, Asihis 

 sericeus, Stomoxys calcitrans, Scatop/iaga furcata, 

 Culex tceneorhynchus, and Tipula ferruginea, 

 besides the smaller dipterous forms that are found 

 skimming over the surfaces of pools and ponds of 

 water; Harpalus compar, Cr atony chus cinereus, 

 Casnonia pennsylvanica, Platynus cupripennis, 

 Donacia confluenta, Cymindis viridipennis, among 

 coleoptera; Spiiosoma Virginica, S. acr&a> Lithosia 

 miniata, Utetheisa bclla, Penthina pomonella, Ani- 

 sopteryx vernata, and many of the Lyccznidce, Tor- 

 tricidce, and Noctuidce. 



Its song especially during flight, is both pleasing 

 and lively. It consists of a succession of twitter- 



