BIRDS OF MINNESOTA 345 



Dr. Hvoslef found them on "North Prairie, June 19th, 1883 

 setting on a newly plowed field. " The same gentleman met 

 them again on the 11th of May, 1884, at Lanesboro. 



This species seems to be more capricious in its choice of lo- 

 calities from year to year, than any other of the fringilline 

 birds. 



They arrive in spring about the middle of May, but vary the 

 time somewhat in different years. They are recognized by 

 their song. 



Describing the songs of some species so as to convey a very 

 good idea to an attentive, enlisted person is quite possible, if 

 they are bold, and strongly characteristic, but with the Black- 

 throated Sparrow, as with many others equally unpretentious, 

 it is really a very difficult task. However, Dr. Coues has ap- 

 proximated it more nearly than any other in the words: 

 "Look! look! see me here! see!" repeated frequently in a 

 rather weak voice but quite spirited manner. His at- 

 titude almost perpendicular, wings and tail deflected, opened 

 bill pointing skyward, he throws his whole soul into an effort 

 worthy of higher results as he reveals his form against the 

 background of sky or cloud from the top of some bush, on the 

 tip of the tallest limb of a small sized tree. He is really a very 

 pretty if not quite beautiful bird. 



The nest is variously located on the ground, in a tussock of 

 grass, on a bush, and sometimes in a tree five or six feet from 

 the ground, and consists of coarse grass externally, lined with 

 finer inside, and generally finished with horse-hair. The eggs, 

 four or five in number, like Lark Bunting's, so resemble those of 

 the Bluebirds that I cannot satisfactorily differentiate them. 



They begin their southward movement very quietly about the 

 20th of September, although all are not gone before the second 

 or third week in October. At this time they are much aggre- 

 gated in number and are found commonly on the high prairies 

 I confess my inability to get as much melody out of this species 

 as does the Rev. Mr. Langille, or even as much ''chic-chic-chelac" 

 as does he, — I suspect that either his observations, or his de- 

 scription of the bird in northern Ohio, which he first saw and 

 heard "one evening at sunset," had been preceded by an excep- 

 tionally good cup of tea, for I have lent that warbler my best, 

 sharpest and longest ears, with no such return for their use. 

 Indeed, while blessed with a fairly available imagination when 

 listening to melody, I confess that even Dr. Cones' formulation 

 of "Look! look! see me here! see!" is a little straining to it. 



