34-O LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



and stems of fine grasses and rootlets. The cavity 

 is beautifully and evenly lined with black and 

 white horse-hairs. 



The Indigo Bird is very abundant, and ordinarily 

 rears but one brood in a season, in this latitude. 

 We have, occasionally, but rarely, met with two 

 broods. When a second brood is raised, it is un- 

 usually late in attaining maturity, the parents 

 being detained long after their usual time of 

 departure, which is the last week of September, or 

 the beginning of October. 



In confinement this species thrives well and 

 readily subsists upon a mixture of rape and canary 

 seeds. In time, it becomes as tame and trustful 

 as FringiUa canaria. Old birds have been captured 

 and caged which in a brief period displayed as 

 much tameness and docility as those reared from 

 the nest. Mr. John Stroi:sc of Chestnut Hill, who 

 has had considerable experience with birds, informs 



x 



us that this species, under proper domestication, 

 soon becomes a good singer. He has known birds 

 when placed in close proximity to a caged canary, 

 to imitate in a few weeks, with considerable ac- 

 curacy, the song of the latter. 



The eggs are rounded-oval, light bluish-white, 

 and unspotted. They measure .75 of an inch in 

 length and .57 in breadth. 



Cardinalis Virginianus, Bonap. 



This beautiful species which commends itself to 

 our favor not more by the gorgeousness of its 



