PERCHING BIRDS 



605. Lakk Btnting. Calnmospiza mela- 

 twcorys.. 



Range. — A bird of the Plains, abundant from 

 western Kansas to eastern Colorado and norlli 

 to the Canadian border; winters in Mexico. 



These black and white birds have a sweet 

 song which they often utter while on the wing 

 after the manner of the Bobo- 

 link, all their habits being 

 similar to those of this bird, 

 except that this species likes 

 the broad dry prairies where 

 it nests on the ground under 

 the protection of a tuft of 

 grass or a low bush. Their 

 four or five eggs are like 

 those of the last but slightly larger. Size .85 

 X .65. Data. — Franklin Co., Kansas. 4 eggs. 

 Nest in cornfield in a hollow on the ground at 

 the base of a stalk; made of straw and weeds. 



<h whitu 



Dickcissel 



TANAGERS. Family TANAGRID^ 



()'07. Western Tanager. Piranga ludoviciana. 



Range. — United States, west of the Plains and north to British Columbia. 



This handsome species is black and yellow, with an orange or reddish head. 



They are common and breed in suitable localities through their range, nesting 



as do the eastern Tanagers in trees usually at a low elevation, the nests being 



saddled on the forks of horizontal branches; they are made of rootlets, strips 



of bark, and weed stalks, 



and are usually frail like 



those of the Grosbeaks. 



Their eggs, which are laid 



in May or June, are bluish 



green, specked with brown 



of varying shades. Size 



.95 X .65. 



■4f»%' 



()()S. Scarlet Tanager. 

 romelas. 



Bluish green 



P iron IT a cri/th- 



1 .11 1 1; r. III! I iiii 



These beautiful scarlet 

 and Ijlack birds frequent, 

 chiefly, woodlands, al- 

 though they are very of- 

 ten found breeding in or- 

 chards and small pine 

 groves. They are quiet 

 birds, in actions, but their 

 loud warbling song is 

 lieard at a great distance, and is readily recog- 

 nized l)y its peculiarity. They nest upon hori- 



369 



Oreenisli l]luc 



24 



