DICKCISSEL. 



604. Spiza americana. 6^ inches. 



Male beautifully blended with yellow, white and 

 gray, and with a black throat patch and brown shoul- 

 ders ; female duller.. 



In the middle portions of the U. S. these birds, or 

 Black-throated Buntings, as they are commonly called, 

 are very numerous, frequenting dry, bushy fields or 

 prairies. They are very persistent songsters, although 

 their song is weak and has little meiody. In July and 

 August, when many birds are silent, they continue 

 their plaintive chant even on the most sultry days. 



Song. — A simple chanting "chip, chip, che-che-che." 



Nest. — Either on the ground, in bushes or thistles, 

 or in trees ; of weeds, grasses, rootlets, corn husks, etc. ; 

 eggs four or five in number, plain bluish white and 

 hardly distinguishable from those of the Bluebird; size 

 .80 X .60. 



Range. — N. A. east of the Rockies, breeding from 

 the Gulf States north to northern U. S. ; rare in the 

 Atlantic States north to Connecticut. 



