SUMMER RED-BIRD, 
233 
that time, seen them in all their stages of colour, 
j ’‘fing their residence here, I hare the more satisfaction 
} assuring the reader that the whole four species 
Rationed by Dr Latham are one and the same. 
I l^lie food of these birds consists of various kinds of 
and large black beetles. In several instances, I 
fonnd the stomach entirely filled w ith the broken 
i^'^ains of humble bees. During the season of whortle- 
r'^ics, they seem to subsist almost entirely on these 
J?''fie8 ; but, in the early part of the season, on insects 
^ Ike above description. In Pennsylvania, they are a 
,6 species, having myself sometimes passed a whole 
v'ttHner without seeing one of them ; while in New 
u''sey, even within half a mile of the shore opposite 
city of Philadelphia, they may generally be found 
'*i^ng the season. 
, The note of the male is a strong and sonorous whistle, 
|.^^einblin«* a loose trill or shalvO on the notes of a fife, 
A®’lUently repeated ; that of the female is rather a kind 
thmjgring, approaching nearly to the rapid pronun- 
^ion of chichy-tuchy-tucli, chicliy-tuchy-tuch, when she 
any person approacliiug the neighbourhood of her 
She is, however, rarely seen, and usually mute, 
scarcely to be distinguished from the colour ot the 
f j^ge at a distance ; while the loquacity and brilliant 
of the male make him very conspicuous ; and when 
fffo among the green leaves, particularly if the light 
8^7 strongly on his plumage, he has a ino.st beautiful 
j"* elegant appearance. It is worthy of remark, that 
ienmles of almost all our splendid feathered birds 
p® drest in plain and often obscure colours, as if 
8 *^''idence meant to favour their personal concealment, 
consequently, that of their nest and young, from 
L ® depredations of birds of prey ; while, among the 
J,|:*®^ such as eagles, owls, hawks, &c. n hich are under 
y ®^eh apprehension, the females are uniformly covered 
‘i" richer coloured |)lumage than the males. 
^ ke summer red-bird delights in a flat sandy country 
8j^^7*d with wood, and interspersed with pine trees ; 
d is, consequently, more numerous towards the shores 
