SUMMER RED-BIRD. 
since that time, seen them in all their stages of colour, 
during their residence here, I have the more satisfaction 
in assuring the reader that the whole four species 
mentioned by Dr Latham are one and the same. 
The food of these birds consists of various kinds of 
hugs, and large black beetles. In several instances, I 
have found the stomach entirely filled with the broken 
remains of humble bees. During the season of whortle- 
berries, they seem to subsist almost entirely on these 
berries ; but, in the early part of the season, on insects 
of the above description. In Pennsylvania, they are a 
rare species, having myself sometimes passed a whole 
summer without seeing one of them ; while in New 
Jersey, even within half a mile of the shore opposite 
the city of Philadelphia, they may generally be found 
during the season. 
The note of the male is a strong and sonorous whistle, 
resembling a loose trill or shake on the notes of a fife, 
frequently repeated ; that of the female is rather a kind 
of chattering, approaching nearly to the rapid pronun- 
ciation of chicky-tuchy-tuck , chichy-tucky-tuck , when she 
sees any person approaching the neighbourhood of her 
nest. She is, however, rarely seen, and usually mute, 
and scarcely to be distinguished from the colour of the 
foliage at a distance ; while the loquacity and brilliant 
red of the male make him very conspicuous ; and when 
seen among the green leaves, particularly if the light 
falls strongly on his plumage, he has a most beautiful 
and elegant appearance. It is worthy of remark, that 
the females of almost all our splendid feathered birds 
are drest in plain and often obscure colours, as if 
Providence meant to favour their personal concealment, 
and, consequently, that of their nest and young, from 
the depredations of birds of prey ; while, among the 
latter, such as eagles, owls, hawks, &c. which are under 
no such apprehension, the females are uniformly covered 
with richer coloured plumage than the males. 
The summer red-bird delights in a flat sandy country 
covered with wood, and interspersed with pine trees ; 
and is, consequently, more numerous towards the shores 
