278 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



It is pre-eminently terrestrial in its habits, living, 

 feeding, and nesting on or close to the ground. It 

 subsists upon the seeds of asters, solidagos, Aira 

 flexuosa^Amarantus hybridus,A. albus, and various 

 species of Panicum, during the early part of the 

 season; and, later, upon Raphanus sativus, com- 

 mon salad, Ambrosia artemisicefolia, and the 

 berries of Juniperus Virginiana. Among insets 

 we have observed the remains of CEdipoda sul- 

 phur ea, CE.nebulosa, Diccelus dilatatus, Harpalus 

 compar, PI. pensylvanicus, Formica sanguinea, 

 and earthworms, besides the dipterous forms 

 of Musca domestica, Stomoxys calcitrant, and Culex 

 tczniorhynchus. 



Its stay is brief and lasts but a week. It retires 

 as silently and as unexpectedly as it came. During 

 its autumnal migration, it rarely stops, usually 

 passing rapidly through in its southward-bound 

 journey to Mexico and Central America where it 

 passes the winter-months. 



In the vicinity of Newark, N. J., it is a very- 

 abundant species, and nidificates in great numbers. 

 Mr. Maynard says it breeds abundantly on the 

 island of Nantucket, and Mr. Allan claims for it an 

 abundant summer visitant in Western Massachu- 

 setts where it breeds in dry fields and pastures, 

 / and is double-brooded. Mr. T. S. Brandigee, 

 according to Dr. Brewer, found several nests in 

 the neighborhood of Hartford, Conn., which were 

 built in a held of thin grass upon the ground, and 

 nearly hidden from view. In Northfield, 111. ac- 



