362 Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science. 



clods and clubs, firing gnus. l)eaMug tin pans, and by grinding out music 

 (God save the mark!), on that invention of the devil, known as the horse- 

 fiddle. A more diabolical instrument was never invented ; nor one that 

 could make noise more discordant or more terrifying. 



In its essential construction tliis machine consisted of a cylinder about 

 eight to ten inches in diameter and a foot to 18 inches long, made of hard- 

 wood, perhaps beech or oak. Teeth two to three inches long of hard but 

 flexible hickory were set in holes arranged spirally around the cylinder 

 as are the teeth in the cylinder of a threshing machine. The cylinder was 

 then placed in a box from at least one side of which teeth projected in- 

 ward. The ends of the box and the side in which the teeth were set were 

 made heavy and strong, the three other sides being of thin resonant boards. 

 The cylinder was provided with an axle which fitted in a hole in each end 

 of the box, the axle at one end being long enough to have a handle or 

 crank fitted to it by which the cj'Under could be turned. Turning the crank 

 caused the teeth of the cylinder to strike the strong teeth fixed to the box, 

 and the noise made by the release was about the most discordant, ear-split- 

 ting, and terrifying that can be imagined. A more effective means of stam- 

 peding blackbirds has probably never been devised. It was also effective 

 in frightening horses, cattle, and other live stock on the farm, and causing 

 a runaway now and then if used near a public highway. This instrument 

 of terror also did excellent service in the callithumpian concerts (or "bell- 

 ings" or "shivarees" we called them), with which newly married couples 

 in that land were usually honored. 



Carroll County: February 27, 1879, two seen, one collected ; March 1, a 

 large flock seen near Camden. In the early days, favorite nesting regions 

 were the Harness swamp south of Burlington, the Maple swamp west of 

 Burlington, and in and about all the small woodland iwnds. After the 

 swamps and ponds had been drained, these birds resorted to the pine, spruce, 

 cedar and other trees about the farm houses and even in the towns. 



Monroe County: May 13, 1882, nest with two eggs incubated perhaps four 

 days; February 27, 1883, several seen. A number of pairs nested each year 

 in pine trees in Bloomington and in Turner's grove. 



127. Hesperiphona vespebtina vespertina (W. Cooper). 



EVENING grosbeak. (514) 



An erratic, usually rare, winter visitant. 



On January 22, 1887, Charles H. BoUman shot one (a male) of this rare 

 species on the University campus at Bloomington. On the same day Cal. 

 Mcridith and a companion saw a flock of 12 from which they collected five 

 near Frankfort (near the south line of Carroll County). A few days later 

 two examples were seen near Frankfort. On April 27, 29 and 30, examples 

 were noted at Bloomington liy G. G. Williamson. On February 1, 1890, H. 

 N. McCoy captured one from a flock of 20 to oO. near I^afayette. 



128. Carpodacus purpureus purphreus (Gmelin). purple finch. (517) 

 In Carroll County frcquenfl.v seen late in the autumn and again 



