184 



All this has greatly changed. 8oiiie of these cliaraeteristio forms 

 liave almost disappeared, while the draining of the swamps and the re- 

 claiming of the land have lessened the area favorable for the homes of 

 others. Few. indeed, are the nuniiiers of most of these l)irds in this 

 region compared Avith the innumeralile company that occnpied it a half 

 century or more ago. 



Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla). ^'cs]ler Sparrows (Poocivtes gram- 

 ineusi, Dickcissels (Spiza americanal. Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammo- 

 dramus savannarnm passerinns) and Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) 

 are representatives of those that sought the tields with which man re- 

 placed the native woods. Others, such as the Bobolink (I>olichonyx oxy- 

 zivorus) and I*rairie Horned Lark (Otocoris alpestris praticola). also ex- 

 tended their I'ange as favoralile localities were found. At the time of 

 the settling of our State, the breeding-grounds of the Bobolink within our 

 present limits were probably about the southern end of Lake Michigan, 

 extending southward over the prairies of the Kankakee Basin and east- 

 ward as fa I- as the site of Rochester. Possibly some bred in the smaller 

 prairies in ihe northeastern part of the State. From these points they 

 have gradually spread soullnvard. extending theii' lireeding range ij^a far 

 south as the counties of Fnion. Decatui-. ^Lirion and Vigo. They are 

 not numerous there: Imt under favorable conditions, a few may l»e 

 found at nesting time, enlivening the scenes of rural life with their 

 charming songs, as far sontli as has been indicated (Butler. Proc. 

 1. A. S.. IS'.Xi). The Prairie Horned Larks, too, from practically the 

 same districts, have gradually l)een feund to nest farther south until they 

 have been reported as breeding in Franklin, Decatur, .lohnson. Monroe 

 and Kuox cotuities. Following tlieir extension southward, their numbers 

 have gradually increased until now they are familiar birds in many 

 places Avhere they Avere miknown a few years ago (Butler. Birds of 

 Ind„ 1897. pp. 874-f;i. 



As tillable land is neglected and Itegins to grow up in bnslies and 

 briers, other birds i)ress in to occupy such congenial haunts. The most 

 notable of these, peihajis, are liachman's Sparrow fPeueiT'a aestivalis 

 bachmanii), the Lark Sparrow (Clunidestes grammacus), the Cardinal or 

 common Redbii-d (Cardinalis cai'dinalis) and the Yellow-lu'easted Chat 

 (Icteria virens). All thest> have been observed to be extending their 

 range, where conditions are favorat)le: luit the extension, perhaps, is 

 the most striking in the case of tlie two sii.arrows tirst mentioned. 



