72 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 part i 



somewhat awkward. It usually searches one place thoroughly and 

 then hops to another. In the branches of trees and shrubs its move- 

 ments denote that in these it is perfectly at home. It has a predi- 

 lection of perching in the tops of low bushes and trees, where it swings 

 up and down." 



Aretas A. Saunders writes me that flocks of males arrive in South 

 Carolina and Alabama ahead of the females. The males feed on 

 the ground in and around plowed fields; in poor light they appear 

 black and are easily mistaken for cowbirds. Flight is imdulatory. 



William Youngworth (1958) first observed this species in Iowa in 

 1932, and collected the first specimen for that State in 1934. He 

 now writes, "The trend with many of the prairie birds in Iowa and 

 Minnesota is just the opposite of the apparent spread of the Blue 

 Grosbeak. The spread of the Grosbeak is almost unique. We have 

 a species which 30 years ago was almost unloiown to the state * * * 

 Today we can report them as not rare in western Iowa." He says that 

 the bird seems to be a late nester, usually arriving the end of May. 

 "In July, when Orchard Orioles are already moving to the south. 

 Blue Grosbeaks seem to just be getting into the swing of a second 

 nesting." His latest record was Aug. 21, 1948, with young still 

 being fed in the nest. Birds are still in good plmnage and fine song 

 in July and August. 



Voice. — Nehrling (1896) says on this subject: 



The Blue Grosbeak is a very diligent singer in the early morning hours, and in 

 order to enjoy its song we must rise early. I have rarely heard its lively strain 

 during noontide, and not until it becomes cooler, late in the afternoon, the lovely 

 and varied song sounds through the air in its full beauty. While singing the 

 bird is perched in the top of a bush or small tree, on a post, or a telegraph wire. 

 Not infrequently it pours forth its sweet strain while hidden in dense shrubs and 

 vine-embowered trees. The lover of bird songs will scarcely tire to listen to 

 these, although rather short, but exquisitely sweet, clear, melodious, and some- 

 what metallic notes. The whole performance has something very peculiarly 

 and indescribably pleasant. Some observers claim that the song is much like 

 that of the Indigo Bunting, and others compare it even to the Bobolink's un- 

 rivalled reverie. In my judgement it has not the slightest resemblance either 

 with one or the other. Probably Cooper is not far amiss when he likens the song 

 to that of the California House-finch. To my ear the song had always a great 

 similarity to that of the Purple Finch, though not so quick and energetic, 

 * * * In Texas I have often heard the song late in the evening, and at such 

 times the slower and somewhat melancholie notes make a deep impression on 

 the hearer. The bird sings from the time of its arrival late in April until the 

 young are hatched and have left the nest. 



Aretas A. Saunders writes me that one song recorded in South 

 Carolina and three others in Oklahoma varied in form, but were 

 mainly composed of short notes and slightly longer trills. The pitch 

 varied from C#3 to B3 and the time averaged about 2K seconds, 



