.248 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



a very rare visitor in Eastern Pennsylvania; 

 very few individuals have been observed by us 

 during the last five years. Particular rspedes 

 appear only in special localities in unusually lai^ 

 numbers, after the lapse of a certain number of 

 years. In Southern New Jersey, however, it .'is 

 encountered in flocks of, a score or more. It 

 restricts itself mostly to pine barrens, where a 

 plentiful supply of its favorite food abounds, 

 seldom visiting human habijtations. 



Although preferring wooded regions for the 

 obvious reason that supplies are more easiiyfiro- 

 cured in such situations, yet it must not be; pre- 

 sumed that the species is unnecessarily shy. The 

 reverse of this will be found to be the case. For 

 lack of suspicion it is only surpassed hyv^gioikus 

 linm'ius. Like the latter it will permit the sports- 

 man to approach within a few paces, without mani- 

 festing the slightest distrust or timidity. On 

 account of the existence of suitable and abundant 

 food, there is much less of that nomadic life which 

 in so strikingly characteristic ol Ampelis cedroruni, 

 and other species. Its occupancy of a region being 

 more permanent and stable. 



In winter its food consists, mainly of the seeds, 

 of Pmus mops, P. rigtda, and Abi^s nigra. The 

 berries of Junipsrus Virglniana, J. communis^^xiA 

 LoHuera peridymeimm, and graminaceous .seeds 

 are occasionally eaten. These with the ova, pups, 

 aa.d images of Cratonychus cinereus, C. pertin^ax 

 and mature forms of Harpalus compar, H. pensyl- 



