BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



203 



* All taken on hickory trees. 



May 18, 1882, I shot seven adult males feeding in oak (Quercua) 

 and hickory (Carya) trees, and found all to have fed exclusively on 

 coleopterous insects (beetles). On May 13, 1883, I killed thirteen 

 Tanagers, twelve being adult males, in a large woods on the property 

 of William Williams, Jr., Willistown, Pa. The birds were all shot in the- 

 forenoon and while feeding in the maple (Acer) and hickory ( Carya) 

 trees. An examination of the stomachs of this series of birds, made 

 by myself and Mr. Williams, showed that black-colored beetles and 

 no other food had been taken. 



FAMILY HIRUNDINID-ffl. SWALLOWS. 



NOTE. Swallows feed exclusively on insects. They consume myriads of flies 

 which so pester our horses and cattle, or sorely vex the tidy housewife. They havo 

 a lively and not unmusical twitter, but no scng. Swallows are remarkable for their 

 sociability at all times; they migrate in flocks, sometimes numbering thousands, 

 and nest together often in large companies. Living as they do almost constantly on 

 the wing, they visit nearly every locality, generally, however, when feeding and 

 migrating, they frequent mostly ponds, rivers, streams and watery places in Holds 

 and meadows, where various kinds of wingod insects are so plentiful. They fre- 

 quently are seen to stop for an instant to drink and bathe when skimming over the 



