286 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



call-note is a simple hwlt produced slowly and at 

 regular intervals during feeding and perching. 

 The same syllable pronounced sharply and 

 hurriedly is expressive of anger and also of dis- 

 appointment. The prelude to its song resembles 

 nearly the first^measure of that of Spizella monti- 

 cola and may be written twl-twt-twi-twi-twi-i-i-i-l, 

 but is pronounced with less animation. 



The flight of this Sparrow is low, undulating, and 

 but moderately protracted. 



Its food is principally procured from the ground 

 and among the leaves and branches of trees and 

 shrubs, and consists of the seeds of various plants, 

 and divers insects. Early in the spring it is chiefly 

 a vegetarian. An examination of the contents of 

 many stomachs discloses but few insect-fragments, 

 in comparison with what is found in the Phcebe 

 bird. The blossoms of the red maple, particu- 

 larly their stamens and pistils, the green berries of 

 Juniperus communis, are devoured with avidity. 

 In the months of March and April, we have de- 

 tected in stomachs, seeds of Amarantus albus, A. 

 hybridus, Raphanus sativus, common salad, and 

 common beet, with the young of Acheta nigra, 

 Caloptenus femur -rub rum, Platynus cupripennis, 

 Donacia confluenta^ Formica sanguinea, and earth- 

 worms. \ 



As spring advances into summer, the eggs and 

 larvae of various fruits and insects are devoured 

 with a gusto. The cultivated varieties of Prunus 

 the wild and cultivated species of Fra- 



