146 , LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



These are mostly of terrestrial character, although 

 it has been observed to capture them upon' the 

 wing. Among beetles, Chrysomelok cceruleipennis, 

 Cymindis viridipennis, Bostrichus pini, Haltica cka- 

 lybea, Buprestis luridus, Cratonychus cinereus, Pla- 

 tynus cupripennis, Pangus caliginosus, are eaten, 

 besides various dipterous forms, Tabanus lineola, 

 Culex tceniorhynchus, and Asilus. sericeus, ants 

 «piders, earthworms, aphides, and larvae and imagos 

 of Harrisina Americana, Lithosia miniata, Ani- 

 sopteryx vernata, and other georrteters, Utetheisa 

 bella and many A^bt/'w/a'j' which are found in sylvan 

 retreats. 



The nest of this bird is generally placed at the 

 base and among the roots of a tree, and frequently 

 alongside of a decayed log. Nidification commen- 

 ces about the middle of May. Externally the 

 nest is formed of dry leaves, grasses, and mos- 

 ses, and lined internally with fine -grasses, and oc- 

 casionally a few hairs. The period of incubation 

 is between 1 3 and 1 4 days ; the duty is performed 

 wholly by the female. In from ten to twelve days 

 the young are prepared to leave the nest, but still 

 continue "with their, parents. When disturbed 

 while with young, the female utters the most 

 piteous and agonizing cries, all the while fluttering 

 about the ground with expanded wings and tail ; 

 while incubation is progressing, in case of distur- 

 bance, she quietly slips, out of the nest, flies a 

 short distance where she remains a passive spec- 

 tator of the proceedings enacted. 



