J30 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



earnest than those of any of our Eastern species, 

 and exhibit most astonishing variations. Early in 

 the spring it begins with a low whistle,- which it 

 changes to a very quaint and peculiar succession 

 of irregular notes; as the season advances; some 

 of these notes are softly and gently uttered, while 

 others are produced with a vehemence and shrill- 

 ness truly remarkable for so small a species. The 

 following syllables will express with considerable 

 accuracy, the language of its song:^ — tehlck- 

 t'chick-a-tee-way-ah ; tchUkH-wcCydc ; tc hick-way -Srk- 

 tchlcka-way-dc-tchuk. Sometimes tchtcka-way-5c- 

 tchlck pronounced in a clear mournful manner, 

 and so distinct as to be heard at a great distance. 

 Again, the following syllables have been occa- 

 sionally heard early in the morxv\n^:—tchuck-chlck 

 med-chiick-cMck-cheeeeee-tchick-hmlm. 



Like the subject of the preceding sketch, this 

 species combines in a remarkable manner the 

 attributes of the Paridce and Mi^scicapidce. Its 

 agility in the procurement of food surpasses that 

 oi Vireo olivaceus. Beetles constitute a large 

 portion of its diet during its early stay; but, later, 

 various hymenopterous, dipterous, and lepidop- 

 terous insects, are devoured in immense numbers. 

 The following insects constftute a small portion of 

 its voluminous bill of fare: — Donacia confiuenta, 



Chrysomela asruleipennis, Harpalus compar,a.mong 

 coleoptera; Tabanus lineola, Syrphus obscurus, S. 

 obUqmis, Culex tcBniorhynchus, Tipula ferruginea, 



'^isca domestica, among diptera; Apis mellifica. 



