118 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS ' 



seeds of grasses and a few berries are eaten, when the; 

 a scarcity of appropriate food-studs. Early in the season, 

 beetles and grasshoppers are mostly eaten ; but, as the 

 weather becomes warmer, these are abandoned for the more 

 edible caterpillar and moth, and the juicv earthworm. Its 

 bill of fare is made up of the following insects : Pang'iis 

 CaltginosvS) Harpalus compai\ ( 'raton vcJnis cuicreus* Lach- 

 nostcrna quercina,Scariies subterraneus, and other beetles ; 

 (Kdipbda sulphured, CE. ucbulosa, and Achcta uigra, 

 among orthoptera ; Anisopteryx rcniata, A. pometaria^ 

 Zcrcnc catciiaria, An i sot a rubicunda, Hybernia tiUaria, 

 Pieris rapcc, both in their larval and perfect stages ; and 

 I\'iithina pomoncUa, Eudryas grata. ^Rgeria tipuli- 

 forme, Orgyia leucostigma, Prccris americana, and others, 

 chiefly Noctuidce and Lycccnidce, among lepidoptera ; be- 

 sides aphides, ants, and the common earthworm. 



The nest is generally placed upon some species of con- 

 iferous tree, but not imfrequently between a forked branch 

 of ^faclura aurantiaca, at an elevation of about ten feet 

 from the ground ; sometimes not more than five feet. It is 

 composed, externally, of small sticks and grasses which con- 

 stitute a foundation, and is lined with fine grasses. It is 

 rude in structure, loosely put together, and seldom withstands 

 the storms of winter. The cavity is rather small, and it is 

 often with the greatest difficulty that the eggs are prevented 

 from rolling out. In dimensions, it is seven inches in diam- 

 eter, and about three inches in height ; the cavity is nearly 

 four inches wide, and less than one inch deep. The nest 

 is the result of the united efforts of both birds, who work with 

 commendable zeal and patience until it is completed ; only 

 allowing themselves sufficient respite from labor to satisfy 

 the cravings of hunger, and the usual demands for rest at 

 the close of the day. Never more than two days at the far- 

 thest are spent in nest-building. 



As soon as the fabric is finished, usually on the following 

 day, the female begins to oviposit. This business continues 



