The Indigo Bird. 179 



of blue running through it, especially on the head and breast. 



The female is always an insignificant looking little brown 

 thing, quite unworthy, as regards appearance at all events, 

 of being the wife of so richly clothed a mate. 



The Indigo Bunting is a native of Xorth ximerica, migratory 

 in the I^orthern Stales, and stationary in the Southern. From 

 among a number of scientific names that have been bestowed 

 up )n it, I select that of Ember iza cijanea as, in my opinion, 

 the most appropriate. Its French designation is le Ministre, 

 but the Germans call it der Incligofinh. It is described by 

 Bechstein, who evidently knew but little of its habits and 

 true character, for he dismisses it in a few lines with the 

 following recommendation as to diet: ''Its food is canary seed, 

 millet, poppy seed, and bruised hemp seed", upon which it 

 will no doubt survive for a time, but will soon fall into a 

 decline, unless a liberal supply of insects can be added; Q^g 

 and sponge-cake, as advised by some writers, forming but a 

 poor substitute for its natural diet. 



In a sheltered and well-wooded aviary, these birds will 

 pass the winter in this country without apparent inconve- 

 nience, and breed in the following spring, if not molested by 

 mice and other birds. *'The nest", says Dr. Euss, from whom 

 I am obliged to borrow this description, for my birds never 

 attempted to build, and indeed were not in a suitable position 

 to induce them to do so, "is built in a thicket, near the 

 ground, of grass stems, leaves, etc. The eggs are about five in 

 number, blue, speckled with dark spots." 



"The young", continues the same authority, "resemble their 

 mother." 



These birds become very restless, especially at night, during 

 the migratory season, but settle down again after a week or 

 ten days. 



They seldom rear a brood in captivity, and the better plan, 

 when they do nest, is to take away the young ones, as was 

 advised in the case of the Mocking-bird, and bring them up 



