OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 261 



and Chenopodium album. In forests the seeds 

 of Abies canadensis, A. nigra, Betula nigra, and 

 graminaceous seeds, form a considerable part of its 

 diet. When the red maples are in blossoms we 

 have often discerned small flocks subsisting upon 

 the tender stamens and pistils, and the small 

 insects which infest them. As the season advances 

 and the trees come into bloom, the apple and 

 cherry are objects of special attention. It is a 

 source of annoyance to the gardener, often visiting 

 his broken ground for the tiny beetles and earth- 

 worms unearthed, and espying the freshly-sown 

 salad seed, never ceases, unless driven away/^r 

 force, until nearly every $eed has been stolen from 

 its hiding-place. In the summer and autumn both 

 sexes are found feeding upon the seeds of Tarax- 

 acum Dens-leonis, Cirsium discolor, C. pumilum, C. 

 arvense, C. altissinium, Helianthus tracheliifolius, 

 h. divaricatus, H. annmts, H. tuber osus, the culti- 

 vated salad, and various solidagos and asters. 



The Salad Bird is chiefly a granivorous species ; 

 although having a preference for seeds, yet it 

 destroys numbers of small insects for its own 

 appetital gratification, as well as that of its young. 

 The larvae of Anisopteryx vernata, A. pometaria, 

 Chcerodes transversata, Ennomos subsignaria, 

 Zerene catenaria, Hybernia tiliaria, and mature 

 forms of Limacodes s cap ha, Halesidota tcsscllaris, 

 Plusiaprecationis, and other lepidopterous species ; 

 Musca domestica, Tabanus lincola, Stomoxys calci- 

 trans, Anthentfa clongata, and various species 



