')'2 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



spared to satisfy the demands of appetite. When nests 

 are built in out-of-the-way situations, where suitable kinds 

 of insects are scarce, the birds have been known to wander 

 to great distances for food. The labor of feeding- is alter- 

 nately performed, one parent remaining to guard the 

 tender fledglings, while the other is hunting. In accustomed 

 haunts, absence from the nest by either parent, is of extremely 

 short duration, owing to the abundance of suitable diet, and 

 the ease with which it is procured. The young are able to 

 leave the nest in about thirteen davs, but two weeks longer 

 are required to mature them for the active duties of bird-life. 

 The breeding-season being past, and the young being 

 sufficiently matured for self-maintenance, the parent-birds 

 mutually dissolve the domestic ties, and spend the residue 

 of their stay in solitary existence, with no object in view 

 but the gratification of appetite. Their departure for 

 wanner latitudes takes place during the last week of Oc- 

 tober, although a small number still linger into November. 



The food of the young consists mainly of diptera and lep- 

 idoptera, to which a few berries are added by way of variety. 

 The following dipterous insects form an important part of 

 their diet : Musca domestica, Tabauus lineola* T. cinctits, 

 Syrphus obliquus, Anthrax elongata, Tipula ferruginca. 

 Culex tceniorhynchus, and others. Vast numbers of lepi- 

 doptera,both in the larval and adult stages, are devoured witli 

 avidity. The principal of which are Procris Americana. 

 Utetheisa bella, Zerenc catcnaria, Anisoptcryx -cernata. 

 A. pometaria^ Gortyna zece, Eufitchia ribcaria, Pcnthiita 

 pomonclla, Colias philodice, Hybernia tiliaria. Ennomos 

 subsignaria, Anisota riibicunda, and many o/"the Lvacui- 

 dce, ^'Egeridtc, and Tineidce. The fruits of Fragaria Vir- 

 giniana, Rubus villosus, and l^rumis scrotina, are esteemed 

 great luxuries. 



In the early spring-time, vast numbers of beetles are de- 

 voured, many of which are strictly terrestrial in their habits, 

 and prove the species to be likewise. We have detected the 



