OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 275 



the morning and after a few hours' continuance, is 

 relaxed to be renewed at sunset. Its song is con- 

 tinued until late in the season. 



The flight of this bird, like most of the Fringil- 

 lidce, is low, undulating, and but slightly prolonged. 



Its food consists of insects and seeds of various 

 kinds. It loves to visit fallow ground, where it 

 derives a considerable portion of its food, being 

 exclusively terrestrial while searching for the same. 

 We have observed it feeding upon the seeds of 

 Phleum prceteftse, the various species of Panicum 

 and Poa, Amarantus hybridus, A. albus, and occa- 

 sionally upon the freshly sown seed of Raphanus 

 sativus, and the common salad. The following 

 insects have been found in several stomachs which 

 we have examined in the spring-time: — Harpalus 

 compar, Casnonia pennsylvanica, Platynus cupripen- 

 nis, Haltica chalybea, Scarites subterraneus, Cra- 

 tonyckus cinereus, Formica sanguinea, F. subterra- 

 nea, and Lumbricus terrestris. Lkter in the sea- 

 son the larvae ol Anisopteryx vernata, A.pometaria, 

 Zerene catenaria, Eufitckia ribearia, Gortyna sece; 

 and mature forms of Penthina pomonella, Hale- 

 sidota tessellaris, Limacodes scapha, Plusia preca- 

 tionis, and others. The young are fed upon the 

 larvse of the foregoing lepidoptera, aphides, spiders, 

 and earthworms. The fruit of Fragaria Virginica, 

 ■Rubus villosus, and the wild choke-cherry are 

 also eaten. 



Nidifiication commences during the last of 

 April or the begining of May. The nest is mostly 



