I -jo LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



studied. Children in their amusements would frequently 

 pass under the tree, while the birds were engaged in build- 

 ing, but the latter were so intent upon N work that their 

 presence was unheeded. 'The nest was completed, egg- 

 \vere deposited and hatched, and the young matured, the 

 parent-birds evidently feeling as secure as in more sequest- 

 ered situations. 



\Vhcn the young are all hatched together, the duty of 

 feeding devolves upon one or the other parent, both 

 birds never being absent from the nest at the same time : 

 although we have often seen one or the other move from its 

 perch to pursue a passing insect. Hut, on the other hand, 

 where the voung are hatched at irregular intervals, the non- 

 incubating bird assumes the duty of feeding both his mate 

 and the early-hatched young, while the other is occupied 

 with the duties of incubation. 



The young are able to quit the nest, in little more than a 

 fortnight after being hatched. The joy of the parents at 

 this period is apparently unbounded. Their efforts to in- 

 duce them from the nest for the purpose of trying their un- 

 trained wings, evince extreme patience and perfect good- 

 nature. Hut, when the step is taken, their various odd ges- 

 tures are significant of the highest satisfaction and delight. 

 An expiration of a similar period finds the young birds ready 

 to enter upon the varied duties of bird-life. Their food 

 consists of divers caterpillars, such as Anisopteryx vernata, 

 Zcrct/c catcnaria, Anisota rnbiciiinla , and many of the 

 moths mentioned above, with aphides, small beetles, and 

 earthworms. 



In this latitude this species is single-brooded ; at least we 

 have never been able to find more than one brood in a 

 season. Mr. Xuttall affirms that several broods are raised, 

 and appears to have based this opinion upon the discovery 

 of eggs as late as August 28. The same distinguished writer 

 has recorded the finding of its egg in the nest of a Catbird : 

 and another, as late as the i ^th of July, in a Robin's nest. 



