Notes on the Birds. 367 



Vi(/o Coiiiilii: M.-inli it. ISS'J, still nlMind.iiil : dny cdldcsl for some (iiiic. 



Monnx i'dniihi: .laniiaiy II', iss;;. several >ccii. ami oii February 10, 

 niaiiy scores noted: noted hy l'i(d'ess(i|- I'datclde.v as late as April '[\). 



One of tlie prettiest siulits mie may see in eaiiy winter is a lioclv of these 



elieerfnl little liirds. Jnsl arrived fr the mirlli and feediu},' iiloiiK some 



In-iisliy fence idw or at llie ed-;e id' some weedy Held. They are very busy 

 and ver\ happy as they tly from the ln\\ trees and hushes down amontr 

 the ra.n' weeds or other seed -hearing;- plants where they lind an ahnndance 

 of seeils that seem Just to their taste. They j;lean wvy industriously, the 

 while chirpiuf; or siufiin.u merril.v : now and then takiu},' short flights into 

 the bushes or up into the trees near by hut rctuniiuf; promi)tly to the weeds 

 or to the jiTouud heneatli. not remaiiuiii;' lou.ij in one place hut moving 

 throu^b the copsy taiisile h.\ easy stajics. feedinj,^ as they j,'o. And then 

 af,'ain in early spring while snow still lies anioni; the weeds and hushes and 

 ill all protected jjlaces, and the birds be.^in to prejiare for tbe return to 

 iheir summer home in the north, the tree sparrows are (>ven more interesting 

 than they were in the fall. The.\ ulean amonn the weeds as Ijefore but spend 

 more time in tlie trees siii.gini; their sweet little soiilc which means they will 

 soon leave us, not to be seen a.iiaiu until next fall aftei' the first snows have 

 come. 



143. Spizella PAssKKi.NA I'AssKUiXA (Bechsteiu). 



CHIPPING SPAKI{OW. (oOO) 



A common and very familiar sunimer lesident. coming about the yards 

 and orchards and building its nests in the suuill cedars and similar trees 

 about the house. The nest is usually constructed largely of horse-hairs, 

 hence "Hair bird", a name by which this bird is often known. 



Vurroll County: May 29, 1883, set of two fresh eggs; March 27, 1884, 

 lirst seen ; April 3, 1885, several seen, first arrivals. May 14. 1919, set of 

 four fresh eggs, nest in woodbine vine, at Burlington, reported by Donovan 

 Beck. 



Monroe County: Common summer resident, nestin.g commonly in the 

 small cedars which are abundant in old pastures and open woods about 

 Bloomiugton. 



Vigo County: Very common sunnner resident. April 1, 1888. 



144. Spizella pallida (.Swainsonl. olay-colgred spabbow. (561) 



Probably a rare spring and fall migrant. One shot by Mr. Blatchley 

 September 27, 1890, near Terre Haute; it was with a flock of tree sparrows. 

 Not noted in any of the other counties. 



145. Spizella PusiLLA pisiLi.A (Wilson), fiklu sparrow. (563) 



Common summer resident. Nests on the ground in old fields and similar 

 places. 



CfirrolJ Count!/: In the spring of 1883, unusually common and singing 

 swi-etly in the evening on the prairie farms in Tipi>ecanoe and Jefferson 



