OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 333 



Its flight is lofty, slightly undulating, and gener- 

 ally protracted. In feeding its general movements 

 are mainly arboreal; seldom terrestrial, unless at 

 the time of breeding. 



Sir John Richardson who met with this species 

 on the Saskatchewan, during his first trip with Sir 

 John Franklin, describes its song as clear, mellow, 

 and harmonious. Mr. Nuttall, who kept one in 

 confinement, in speaking of this bird, says it is a 

 melodious and untiring singer, frequently spending 

 the greater part of the night in warbling its various 

 tunes. These notes are loud and distinct at times, 

 and at others, querulous, cheerful, and pathetic. 

 When singing it would mount on tiptoe, as if in an 

 ecstasy of delight at the unrivalled beauty of its 

 own voice. Its powers of song, are by him con- 

 sidered, as unexcelled by any species save Mimus 

 polyglottus. Its ordinary call-note is a faint chuck. 



During* its stay of two weeks, it subsists upon 

 the ova and pupa of insects, which it espies in 

 fissured bark, mature forms of various coleopterous 

 and dipterous insects which are found in its accus- 

 tomed haunts, and the seeds and berries of divers 

 plants. Before taking its leave, it feasts largely 

 upon the tender buds of trees, the succulent cones 

 of Pinus, and the stamens and pistils of Acer 

 mbrum, It is said to affect a fondness for the 

 berries of Liquidambar styracijlua. The following 

 insects have been found among the undigested 

 contents of many stomachs which we have 

 examined: Cratonychus cinereus, C. pertinax, 



