OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 329 



after its arrival, its favorite haunts resound with 

 its quaint serenade from sunrise to sunset. Ac- 

 cording to Wilson its notes resemble chip-ckip- 

 che-che-che, and in manners bear a close resem- 

 blance to the European Ember iza citrinella. Mr. 

 Audubon compares its song to that of Emberiza 

 miliaria of Europe. 



The food of this species consists of seeds, 

 berries, and insects which it procures from the 

 ground, and in low bushes and low trees. We 

 have observed it feeding upon the seeds of grasses, 

 particularly thqse of Phleum prcetense, Triticum 

 vulgare, Secale cereale, and those of Trifoliinn 

 prcetense; besides the berries of Fragaria Vir- 

 giniana, Rubus villosus, Rubus strigosus, R. occi- 

 dentalis, Junipcrus Virginiana, and Prunus sero- 

 tina. The following insects constitute a portion 

 of its bill of fare: Cr atony chus cinereus, Chryso- 

 mela cceruleipcnnis, Cymindis viridipennis, Harpalus 

 pensylvanicus, Formica sanguinea, aphides, and 

 various lepidopterous larvae, which it feeds to its 

 young, together with mature forms of the same. 



Nidification takes place about the 20 of May or 

 the beginning of June, usually about five days 

 after mating. The nest is invariably placed upon 

 the ground, according to our experience, which 

 has been the experience of both Mr. Ridgway and 

 Prof. Baird; but in some localities it is placed on 

 small bushes at a slight elevation above the ground. 

 Dr. P. R. Hoy, according to Dr. Brewer, has never 

 observed them to nest upon the ground, which 



