22 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



behalf. They are fed upon earthworms, and the caterpillars 

 of Clisiocampa Americana, Anisopteryx vernata, Zerene 

 catenaria, Hybernia tiliaria, and mature forms of Limaco- 

 des scapha, Hales idota tessellaris, Anisopteryx pometaria, 

 and many of the Nbctuidtz. As they increase in size and 

 strength, coleopterous and orthopterous insects, such as Cra- 

 tonychiis cineretts, C. pertinax, Cymindis viridipennis, 

 GLdipoda ncbulosa, '(E. sulphurea, CE. Carolina, and Ach- 

 eta nigra, are added to their already voluminous bill of fare. 

 In about three weeks after hatching, they are ready to quit 

 the nest, and in a fortnight more, are able to shift for them- 

 selves. 



The eggs are rounded-oval in configuration, obtuse, and 

 pretty generally equal at each extremity. They are brown- 

 ish-olive on the ground, and occasionally an olive-drab, with 

 a sprinkling of darker olive-brown spots. The average size 

 is 1.16 inches in length and .85 in width. 



