170 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



for nearly three weeks, when it resumes its noth- 

 ward-bound journey. It leads a solitary life and 

 being fond of retirement, ordinarily seeks the 

 borders of dense woods, where among the smaller 

 trees and shrubbery it procures a ready subsist- 

 ence. When the apple and cherry are in blossom 

 it vacates its former retreats for cultivated grounds 

 which yield it an ample remuneration for its trouble. 



It manifests but ordinary timidity when ap- 

 proached, and like the little Parula Americana 

 before mentioned, only seeks safety in flight when 

 closely pressed by its pursuers, merely indulging 

 in short flights from branch to branch, and from 

 bush to bush. 



Whilst foraging, its movements are exceedingly 

 agile and graceful, combining in a remarkable 

 manner the peculiar attributes of both the ParidcB 

 and' Muscicapidcs. Like the former it moves with 

 nimbleness along the trunks and branches of trees, 

 in every conceivable direction ; freely suspending 

 itself from their lower surfaces, and occasionally 

 poising itself before an expanding bud or flower; 

 like the latter when the opportunity occurs, it will 

 seize a passing insect with equal ease anq dexterity. 



Its habits whilst feeding are pre-eminently arbo- 

 real, although there is ground for the belief that 

 it is sometimes terrestrial. Several stomach ex- 

 aminations disclose the presence of beetles whose 

 habits are exclusively terrestrial, as the following 

 listabundantly shows: — Thaneroclerus sanguineus, 

 Haltica chalybea, Chrysomda ca^rtileipennis^ Fero- 



