264 BIRDS OF U.LIN0I6. 



with emotional trills. At the hegiuning the soug reniindH one some- 

 what of that of tlu' Indigi) Bii»l (I'asserinu cifuiifit), hut the notes 

 lire louder and more metallic, and their delivery more viporous. 

 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 liy exertion, and his voice becomes scarcely audUde ; 

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

 ho appears to be really overcome by the effort. 



The range of this species is probably pretty general within the 

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

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

 Vol. YIII., IWCi, p. 107), it is "a common sunnuer 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 gro^\•th 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 obsenations regarding 

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

 Mr. Kidgway as given in Xorth 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, ai-e as follows : 



"This is a rather rare summer resident. .\l)Out once a year I run 

 across a stray pair on a burnt prairie or liy 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 kejjt 

 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 sumve the Paris green which they eat with the potato 

 hugs." 



Genus ZONOTRICHIA Swainson. 



Zonolricliia Swains. Fnunii Bor.-Ani. ii, lH:il,4ii:(. Type. Jimhenza leucoi)l"-u.i Fobst. 

 "Gen. Char. Body riithor stout. Bill conieal.sllKhtly notclied, somewhat eompress- 

 ed. cxeuvated inside; the lower ninndiblo ruthcr lower than the upper: gouys slightly 

 convex; eomniissure nearly straight. Feet stout; tarsus rather longer than midille toe; 

 the lateral toes very nearly euunl. Hind toe longer than the lateral ones; the elnws of 

 the latter just reaehing to base of middle one. Inner ehiw eontuined twiee in its toe 

 projier; eluws all slender and eonsidoraldy eurved. Wings moderate, not renehing to the 

 middle of the tail, but beyond the rump; seeondaries and tertials equal and eonsiderably 

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

 llflh, much longer than tertials. Tall rather long, moderately rounded; the teothers not 

 very hroail. 



"Back streaked. Rump and under parts Immaenlnte, except In younB. Head black, 

 or With white streaks, entirely dUferent from the back. 



