OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 73 



ing the fierceness of disposition which characterizes this 

 last-mentioned species, it is nevertheless very selfish and 

 somewhat tyrannical ; often pursuing with an inveterate hat- 

 red, our smaller aves* when they unwittingly stray into its 

 territory. Its stay with us is of short duration, seldom 

 exceeding a period of three days, at the utmost. 



We have never heard its song. Its feeding appears to be 

 conducted in perfect silence Perhaps, it is only during the 

 mating-period that it essays a song. With us, its whole time 

 is exclusively occupied in satisfying the cravings of appetite. 

 Mi 1 . Paine describes its song as simple, and as composed of 

 two syllables, which it sometimes changes to a kind of 

 twitter while dallying with its mate. 



Mr. William Brewster of Boston, who has paid consider- 

 able attention to the subject, speaks of the male as a vigorous 

 singer. He says his song is uttered in a harsh fretful tone, 

 and consists of a single refrain of two syllables, which are 

 repeated after an interval of thirty seconds. Its syllabic 

 language is happily expressed by he-wing, which is occa- 

 sionally varied to kc-ivink or kc-uuincJi. At each utterance, 

 the head is thrown back with a jerk. 



Mr. Minor's description of its song differs very materially 

 from the above. He describes its usual call-note as a slight- 

 ly querulous PH, which is often repeated, and bears some 

 resemblance to that of Myiarchus crinitus. Another note, 

 which is produced in a very peculiar manner, sounds like 

 pu-ee: but it is quite distinct from the well-known note of Con- 

 topus virens^QftA is supposed to resemble the plaintive note 

 of the Goldfinch. Its son^-note. which is delivered with 



O 



considerable force and vehemence, is expressed by the syl- 

 lables cJicc-bcc-n. During their utterance, the head is 

 thrown back, and the tail pressed downward. 



The food of this Flycatcher, during its brief stay, consists 



mainly of coleoptera, although a few diptera are eaten. We 



have detected remains of I far pal us com par. H. pensylvani- 



ctts. ( ra ton vc Jius cine re us* rtnuts Jritniercilis* l\Jivnc/uc- 



10 



