OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 389 



Formica sanguinea, F. sublerranea, Lumbricus ter- 

 restris, and specimens of Julus. Later, the cater- 

 pillars of Hybernia tiliaria, Anisopteryx vernata, 

 A. pomelaria, Ennomos subsignaria, Zerene cate- 

 nana, Anisota rubicunda, Clisiocampa Ameri- 

 cana, Colias philodice, Eufitchia ribearia, Utetheisa 

 bella, Gortyna zece, and mature forms of many of 

 the above, with Spilosoma Virginica, Penthina 

 potnonella, Lithosia miniata, and others. Besides 

 the above, small spiders, aphides, and a few diptera 

 are also eaten. Being slightly frugivorous it sub- 

 sists upon the berries of Pnmus cerasus, P. sero- 

 tina, Amelanchier canadensis, FragaHa Virginiana, 

 Rubus villosus, R. strigoszis, Vaccinium staminemn, 

 and in the autumn, upon those of Jtmiperus Vir- 

 giniana, y. communis, Lonicera periclym,enum, and 

 Liquidambar styraciflua. 



This species has one very bad trait, perhaps, not 

 generally known. Like the common crow, it is 

 fotid of birds' eggs and tender nestlings of which 

 it destroys a great many, particularly those of 

 Ttirdus migratorius. Coward-like it lurks in the 

 vicinity of a robin's nest while its inmates are 

 absent, seizes an &g^ or a young bird, and beats 

 a precipitate retreat. But wary and vigilant as it 

 is, sometimes it is caught in the act, and forced to 

 seek safety from the impetuous attacks of the 

 owners, by flight. We had been aware of its 

 fondness for eggs for several years past, but only 

 lately learned of this carnivorous propensity, which 

 is, doubtless, the natural outgrowth of the habit of 

 egg-sucking. 



