OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 319 



years of occupancy have enabled them to construct tortu- 

 ous paths in every direction, to which they betake themselves 

 when sorely pressed, and thus elude for a time, at least, 

 their bitterest fop. When startled and put to flight, they 

 produce a loud whirring sound, which is well known to 

 the gunner, even when he has not been so fortunate as to 

 see the bird. 



The ordinary call-note of the male during the courting- 

 season is a loud, clear whistle, which may be quite prop- 

 erly represented by the syllables th' let-che. In some sec- 

 tions of the country, especially in New England, these 

 notes are interpreted as No more ivet. When the bird is 

 considerably excited and enraptured, it is uttered rather 

 hurriedly and resembles let-che. During the breeding-pe- 

 riod and subsequently, the cry is exchanged for Bob-white. 

 repeated quite distinctly, and at graded intervals. Hence 

 the name of Bob White which is often locally applied to 

 these birds. A low, soft and subdued twitter is heard when 

 calling their young, which is most happily expressive of 

 affection, gentleness, and caution. 



The food of this species consists mainly of seeds and 

 berries, although many insects are quite eagerly devoured 

 during the breeding-period. The seeds of Fagopyrum 

 esculentum, Set aria Italica, Zea 3 fays, Sorghum vulgar c, 

 Saccharinum officinarnm, Triticum vulgar e, Hordeum 

 vulgare,Secale cereale, Triticum repens, Quercus rubra, 

 Q. alba, Jg. palustris, Jg. Phcllos, and others, constitute 

 a part of its bill of fare. In addition thereto, the fruits of 

 Rubus villosus, R. strigosus, R. Canadensis, R. occiden- 

 tal is, R. hispidus, Vaccinium stamineum, V. Pennsylva- 

 nicum, V. mac rocar pon, Gaylussacia frondosa, G. resiii- 

 osa, IWitchclla repens, Fragaria Virginiana, F. vesca, 

 Anielanchier Canadensis, Primus serotina, P. Virgini- 

 ana, P. Americana, Juiiiperus Virginiana, J. communis, 

 Rhus glabra, Polygonatum bijlorum, P. giganteum, and 

 others. The insects which are eaten, are mostly of a col- 



