290 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



young, unwearied in their attentions, and seek by 

 loud cries and menaces to drive away intruders. 



The young are fed upon the larvae and mature 

 forms of divers insects. The following list com- 

 prehends a portion of their bill of fare: Lumbricus 

 terrestris, Anisopteryx vernata, A. pome tar ia, 

 Zerene catenaria, Chozrodcs transversata, Hybernia 

 tiiiaria, Leucania ilnipuncta, Agrotis tessellata, 

 Pieris rapes, Colias philodicc, Utetheisabella, The da 

 humuli, Gortyna zece, in thair larval stages; Musca 

 domestica, Tabanus lineola, Culcx tceniorkyncJius, 

 Aphis mail, A. roses, Lachnostenia quercina, in larval 

 forms, and many of the smaller moths of Noctuidcc, 

 Tortricidtz and Tineidcc. As they mature, food 

 suited to their development is administered. 

 They are from 1 2 to 13 days old when they leave 

 the nest, and in ten clays more are able to maintain 

 themselves. Two broods are reared in a season ; 

 the latter during the beginning of July. 



After the breeding season is over both young 

 and old collect in small flocks and feed together. 

 We deem it highly probable, owing to the small 

 size of these autumnal flocks, that they are com- 

 posed of individuals of one family alone. When 

 food becomes scarce in consequence of climatic 

 changes, the greater number of these birds depart 

 for the South; a few remaining as before re- 

 marked, during the entire winter. 



Whether those that have been bred in the 

 neighborhood remain it is difficult to affirm with 

 certainty. As the winter occupants seem to be 



