J^ebraska Ornithologists' Union 91 



several occasions — little mottled and streaked fellows 

 which usually remained quiet until picked up, when they 

 would set up a cry which brought the parents in anxious 

 haste. F. M. Chapman lists the Arctic Towhee as present 

 in great numbers early in May, 1906. 



98. Zaniclodia mclanoccpJiala (S w a i n s n) — Black-headed 



Grosbeak. 



A pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks bred in the thicket 

 along the river during the summer of 1912 but I was never 

 able to discover the nest. Both birds were seen quite reg- 

 ularly up until the lOtli of June, but after that time they 

 were noted only at long intervals — possibly the cares of 

 nesting kept them busy near the nest. During 1911 I had 

 seen the species only on June 9 and August 20. On May 

 19,1912, I saw a single individual far back in the hills in 

 a pocket of hackberries which was situated south of the 

 colony of Great Blue Herons. During the summer, how- 

 ever, the birds confined themselves to the thickets along the 

 river and at the foot of the hills where their grosbeak call- 

 note, which always reminds me of the sound of a pair of 

 rusted shears, could often be heard and frequently served 

 to indicate that the birds were near. They did not sing 

 much at any time, but occasionally in the spring and the 

 earlier part of the summer I would catch the notes of the 

 true song from across the river, although the singer re- 

 mained hidden near the tops of some of the taller trees. 



99. Gniraca caerulea lazula (Lesson) — Western Blue Grosbeak. 



Quite regularly all summer up until August 29 in 1911, 

 and August 30 in 1912, I found Western Blue Grosbeaks 

 at home from the thickets at the base of the hills to the 

 pockets far back from the river. One nest was discovered 

 on July 10 which contained a single pale blue e^^ that had 

 disappeared when I returned to the place a few days later. 

 This nest was situated about three feet from the ground in 

 in a choke-cherry bush in the same pocket that contained 

 the hackberries with the nest of the Swainson Hawk. 



The male of this pretty sparrow, the only bird of its 

 color to be found in the depths of the hills, is a conspicuous 

 object as he flies nervously about or perches on a weed 

 stalk, uttering his sharp "quit." The female is not so 

 conspicuous in her dress of more sober brown. I rarely 

 heard the full song of this grosbeak, but although it is a 



