320 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



eopterous and orthopterous character ; although a few lepi- 

 doptera, both larvae and imagos, are occasionally eaten, 

 together with earthworms. The principal of which are 

 Cratonychus cinercus, C. pertinax, Buprestis Virgin ica, 

 Donacia confluent a, Haltica chalybea, Chrysomela ccerul- 

 eipennis, Eiimolpiis auratus, individuals of the genera 

 Cassidaand Hispa, among coleoptera ; Phylloptera oblong- 

 ifolia, Cyrtophyllus concavus, Phaneroptera curvicauda, 

 Xiphidium fasciatiim, Achcta nigra, CEcanthus nivceus, 

 (Edipoda ncbulosa^ (E. sulphured, Caloptenus femur- 

 rub rum, among orthoptera ; and Zcrene catenaria, Pro- 

 cris Americana, UtetJicisa bella, and other lepidopters. 



We are convinced that many of these birds, late in the 

 autumn, migrate to more southern latitudes, where there 

 exists a great abundance of suitable food-stuffs which are 

 more readily obtained than in this latitude. During the 

 winter, when there is a paucity of such articles, and the 

 ground is covered with a deep layer of snow, they betake 

 themselves to thick woods, where they find shelter and pro- 

 visions in secluded hollows. They occasionally change 

 their base of supplies when food becomes scarce, for more 

 suitable localities, travelling over considerable scope of 

 country in their search. But on the dawn of spring, they re- 

 pair to their old quarters. During heavy falls of snow, they 

 often huddle closely together on the ground, and permit 

 themselves to be covered by the drifts. When the snow 

 is light, they extricate themselves without much difficulty; 

 but if it becomes encrusted by reason of a slight rain, or 

 a partial thaw, they are completely incarcerated, and per- 

 ish for lack of food. In quite severe winters we have 

 known many to starve to death. 



About the middle of March, the flocks break up, and the 

 season of mating begins. Like the Ruffed Grouse, these 

 birds do not indulge in the seemingly ridiculous antics and 

 rhapsodies which characterize many of our smaller Insesso- 

 rial species, during the love-season. The male-bird is quite 



