OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 1 87 



not entirely performed by the female as stated 

 above ; it lasts for a period of 1 1 days. The male 

 is a very dutiful husband and administers most 

 faithfully to his partner's wants. The young are 

 objects of special parental regard. Their food 

 consists of various diptera, aquatic larvae, and 

 small lepidoptera. We have never known more 

 than one brood to be raised In a season. The fact 

 that some birds are later breeding than others, 

 has, doubtless, given rise to the impression that in 

 some sections the species is double-brooded. The 

 young are able to vacate the nest in about 1 4 days 

 after breeding; and in a week or ten days more 

 are prepared to kttend to their own wants. 



We have foimd the remains of the following in- 

 sects in the stomachs of the many individuals which 

 we have examined:^ — Musca domestica, Tabanus 

 lineola, Tabamis cinctus, Syrphus obscurus, Asihts 

 sericeus, Siomoxys calcitrans^ Scatophaga furcata, 

 Culex tigneorfiynckus, and Tipula feii'uginea, 

 besides the smaller dipterous forms thatare found 

 skimming over the surfaces of pools and ponds of 

 water; Harpahis compar; Cratonychus cinereus, 

 Gasnonia pennsyhanica, Platynus •.cupripennis^ 

 Donacia conflumta, Cyntindis viridipennis, among 

 coleoptera; SpilosomaVirginica, S, acrcea, Lithosia 

 miniata, Utetheisa bella, Penthina pomonella, Ani- 

 sopteryx vernata, and many of the Lyxcenidee, Tor- 

 triddos, 2LX\d.Noctmdis. * 



Its song especially during flight, is both pleasing 

 and lively. It consists of a succession of twitter- 



