33O LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



has also been the experience both of Dr. J. W. 

 Velie, of Rock Island, 111., and Robert Kennicott, 

 Esq. The nest is composed externally of divers 

 grasses and plant-stems, and is lined with finer 

 materials of a similar character. It is the labor 

 of the sexes for a period varying from three to 

 four days. The number of eggs laid is from four 

 to five; the duty of oviposition commences on the 

 day succeeding nest completion. A single ovum 

 is daily deposited. Incubation commences the day 

 following the last deposit, and continues for 12 

 days, and is the exclusive labor pf the female. 

 When the nest is disturbed while she is incubating, 

 she creeps noiselessly out, and conceals herself 

 among the grasses, and permits her treasures to 

 be robbed without manifesting the least outward 

 anxiety, or without uttering- a single syllable of 

 complaint. 



The young are fed upon the caterpillars of 

 Hybernia tiliaria, Zerene catenaria, Eufitchia ri- 

 bearia, Ennomos subsignaria, Utetheisa be Ha, Chce- 

 rodes transversata, Colias philodice, Argynnis 

 aphrodite, mature forms of the smaller Noctuidce, 

 Tortmcidce, and Tincidtz, plant-lice, and diptera. 

 At the age of thirteeen days they leave the nest, 

 but are objects of parental care for nine or ten 

 days longer, when they are required to shift for 

 themselves. We have never met with more than 

 one brood in a season. The species retires to its 

 winter-quarters in Central America and Columbia 

 in South America, during the last week of Sep- 

 tember. 



