OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, 



293 



uals showed besides small stones and seeds, entire 

 specimens of Formica sanguined and fragments of 

 Harpalus pensylvanicus, H. compar, Cratonychus 

 cinereus, Bostrichus pini, Casnonia pennsylvanica, 

 and Haltica chalybea. 



The flight of this species is low, undulating, and 

 moderately rapid. When gleaning for food it is 

 chiefly terrestrial, seldom visiting the tall tree-tops, 

 but preferring small trees and bushes to the latter. 

 While thus employed it will permit the nearest 

 approach without taking to wing. The rustling of 

 the leaves will infuse a momentary fear, when the 

 flock, for the species is eminently gregarious, will 

 instantly leave but to return quickly, on the sub- 

 sidence of the noise, to the identical spot where it 

 soon becomes busy again as though nothing had 

 occurred. 



Its chief note in the winter is a low tslc, pro- 

 nounced rather quickly in the intervals of feeding. 

 When spring opens, it again seeks the retirement 

 of open fields and the borders of forests. It now 

 becomes less tame and friendly, but appears at 

 the same time one of the most active and the hap- 

 piest of the feathered creation; alighting upon a 

 tree or bush it chants a sprightly air and is soon 

 off to repeat the same elsewhere. Both song and 

 movements recall to memory our ordinary Cicada 

 canicularis. In syllabic language it may be quite 

 accurately represented by twe-twe-twe-ah-twececee- 

 d/i, commencing in a medium key and increasing 

 gradually in pitch. Accentuation is sharp and the 



