264 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



with emotional trills. At the beginning the song reminds one some- 

 what of that of the Indigo Bird (Passerina cyanea), but the notes 

 are louder and more metallic, and their delivery more vigorous. 

 Though seemingly hurried, it is one continued gush of sprightly 

 music ; now gay, now melodious, and then tender beyond description, 

 the very expression of emotion. At intervals the singer falters, as 

 if exhausted by exertion, and his voice becomes scarcely audible; 

 but suddenly reviving in his joy, it is resumed in all its vigor, until 

 he appears to be really overcome by the effort. 



The range of this species is probably pretty general within the 

 State except in those districts over which forests still largely pre- 

 vail. In Cook county, according to Mr. Nelson, (Bull. Esse.r. Inst. 

 Vol. VIII. , 1876, p. 107), it is "a common summer resident. Arrives 

 the last of April or first of May, nesting the last of this month ; 

 departs August 25th to September 10th. Frequents barren fields 

 and borders of prairies containing a sparse growth of small trees 

 and rank weeds. Its nest is generally placed at the foot of some 

 rank weed in a bare piece of ground. My observations regarding 

 the song and general habits of the species, coincide with those of 

 Mr. Kidgway as given in North American Birds (Vol. I., p. 561)." 



The memoranda of Mr. H. K. Coale, relating to this species, 

 which he has kindly allowed me to quote here, are as follows : 



"This is a rather rare summer resident. About once a year I run 

 across a stray pair on a burnt prairie or by the road. In July, 

 1883, saw one on a bare piece of land near woods, and watched 

 him for half an hour or more ; was quite unsuspicious and kept 

 about the same place picking at the weed seeds. In St. Clair 

 county I saw one pair; it is there called "potato bird"; people say 

 that few survive the Paris green which they eat with the potato 

 bugs." 



GENUS ZONOTBICHIA SWAINSON. 



Zonotrichia SWAINS. Fauna Bor.-Am. ii, 1831,493. Type, Einlterixa leucojjhrys FOKST. 



"GEN. CHAR. Body rather stout Bill conical, slightly notched, somewhat compress- 

 ed, excavated inside; the lower mandible rather lower than the upper; gonys slightly 

 convex; commissure nearly straight. Feet stout : tarsus rather longer than middle toe; 

 the lateral toes very nearly equal. Hind toe longer than the lateral ones; the claws of 

 the latter just reaching to base nf middle one. Inner claw contained twice in its toe 

 proper; <-la\vs all slender and considerably curved. Wings moderate, not reaching to the 

 middle of the tail, but beyond the rump; secondaries and tertials equal and considerably 

 less than longest primaries; second and third quills longest, first about equal to the 

 fifth, much longer than tertials. Tail rather long, moderately rounded; the feathers not 

 very broad. 



"Back streaked. Rump and under parts immaculate, except in young. Head black, 

 or with white streaks, entirely different from the back. 



