OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 371 



He had thought it possible that the bird was in 

 search of insects among the flowers, but a careful 

 examination proved otherwise/' 



Early in the season it subsists upon Ilarpaliis 

 pensylvauicus, Chrysomela, cczruleipennis, Donacia 

 confluenta, Cymindis viridipennis, Cratonychus cin- 

 creus, among beetles; Aphis inali, A. roscz, and 

 other aphides, among hemiptera; small spiders, 

 and Apis mellifica, Fornica sanguined, Megackilc 

 centuncularis, Selandria rosce, S. vitis, Halicti, and 

 Andrena. Later, and while with young, immense 

 numbers of caterpillars are consumed, of which 

 the following are a part:- Anisopteryx vernata, 

 A. pomstaria* Chcerodes transversata, Zerene cate- 

 naria, Eufitchia ribearia, Anisota rubicunda, Enno- 

 mos subsignaria, and mature forms of Penthina 

 poMonella, Plusia precationis, Clisiocampct Ameri- 

 cana, Eudryas grata, and many of the Lyccenidcz, 

 Tortriddcz, and Tineidcz. Since writing the above, 

 we have detected in several stomach-examina- 

 tions, fragments of the petals, stamens, and pistil^, 

 apparently of Pynis mains, and P. communis. 



Mr. Samuels in describing its nest in Massachu- 

 setts says, substantially, it is deposited in a forked 

 branch of a tree in an orchard, at an elevation of 

 not more than twenty feet from the ground, and 

 constructed of different grasses neatly and com- 

 pactly woven together, the whole being lined with 

 fine grasses and a few hairs. Further he says, 

 "it is not pensile but built on a branch." Its style 

 of architecture varies no doubt with the latitude, 



