OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 107 



The nest being finished, but a day or two elapses 'before 

 the female is ready to begin oviposition. The eggs to the 

 number of two are laid in as many days. Incubation im- 

 mediately ensues and continues for a period of about eight 

 days. Its duties devolve exclusively upon the female-bird 

 who sits with commendable perseverance until her task is 

 accomplished. While thus occupied, her mate stands guard, 

 save when abroad in procuring food for himself and her. 

 If any attempt is made to interfere with the nest, he is fore- 

 most and loudest in his cries of indignation, and even darts 

 into the intruder's face seeking to deter him from any con- 

 templated attack ; it often requires considerable effort to beat 

 him oft'. His mate, however, is of a more passive disposi- 

 tion, quietly sitting upon her nest not unmindful of the 

 proceedings, and only deigning to leave when danger seems 

 threatening, when she rushes to the help of her partner, and 

 exerts her utmost to preserve the home. These movements 

 continue while the nest is endangered, and even after it has 

 .been taken, for a limited time ; when the birds quietly retire 

 to a short distance to brood over their mishaps, and to con- 

 sider what is best to be done. 



The young are objects of the tenderest solicitude. Both 

 parents vie with each other in rendering them attentions. 

 When one is absent for food, the other remains to prevent 

 them from coming to ill. Their food possibly consists of 

 a prepared substance of nectar and fragments of soft insects 

 which they procure by thrusting their bills into the throats 

 of their parents. At the age of eleven days they are able 

 to leave the nest : but a week more transpires before they 

 arc fitted to support themselves. 



The food of the old birds consists of the honey of flowers, 

 and largely of quite small spiders which they gather from 

 blossoms. The flowers of the trumpet vine, honey- 

 suckle, and common horse-chestnut, are preferred to others. 

 A careful examination of the stomachs of many specimens 

 showed perfect spiders, among which we were able to identify 



