62 



THE MUSEUM. 



yet to the careless stroller and collec- 

 tor the fox sparrow may remain an un- 

 known bird, for it is a shy and retiring 

 species and rarely shows itself to the 

 passerby. Sometimes in late March, 

 but more often about the middle of 

 the month, these plump brown birds 

 appear in our southern counties. They 

 loiter on their way and may be found 

 occupying suitable quarters in a grove 

 for some weeks. The situations chosen 

 are the edges of woods, which hold 

 thickets of underbrush. Here the 

 fox sparrow may be found in April and 

 October. If a collector appears on 

 the scene in the spring, the birds dash 

 out of sight in the tangle, but emerg- 

 ing on the other side, will tune up and 

 furnish good music to the srtoller, if 

 he is patient and close enough to hear 

 the finer notes. First there are some 

 low, half articulate notes, then follows 

 chu chec chu chu chree clirec clui, after 

 which follow some more of the low 

 notes. The whole being very melodi- 

 ous as well as inspiring. The birds 

 are not known to remain in the state 

 during summer. 



Chewink; Towhee; Ground Robin, 

 Pipilo cryt/irop/itl/a/ii/Ks, L. 



Abundant and quite generally distri- 

 buted within the great Lake Region. 

 Nests commonly and its habits are 

 well known to all observers. Its 

 cheerful, sprightly notes are heard 

 from early March until late October. 



Cardinal; Virginia Redbird, 

 Cardinalis cardijialis, Linn. 



A few stragglers have been taken 

 north of the 42d parallel in Michigan, 

 but it is very doubtful if nests have 

 ever been found excepting on our south- 

 ern boundary. Undoubtedly some of 



the specimens taken were escaped cage 

 birds. Jerome Trombley has found 

 the eggs in Monroe Co. 



Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 

 Hahia liidoviciaiia, Linn. 



A brilliantly colored species with a 

 loud and musical song. Known to all, 

 and found in both Peninsulas. It has 

 often been commented upon that the 

 male of this species is frequently found 

 incubating the eggs. I would say that 

 it is because of the marked distinction 

 in color between the sexes of this spec- 

 ies that this supposed peculiarity has 

 been observed; and I may add, that 

 with all of our sparrows and other 

 smaller birds, and with many of the 

 larger species this habit is common, in 

 fact, so far as I can observe, invaria- 

 ble. 



Indigo Bird; Indigo Bunting, 

 Passcriiia cyaiwa, Linn. 



An abundant and generally distribut- 

 ed species and well known to all from 

 its fine coat and charming song. 

 Found throughout the state in suitable 

 quarters. 



Varied Bunting, 

 Passerina versicolor, Bonap. 



Once taken by Dr. H. A. Atkins, at 

 Locke, Michigan. A rare straggler. 



Black-throated Bunting; Dickcis- 



SEE. 



Spi.za amcricana, Gmel. 



Once rare or unknown in many 

 quarters where it is now abundant. 

 Previous to fifteen years ago it was 

 known to but few observers in the 

 state and still unknown to a large 

 share of collectors. One of the many 

 species which are becoming more com- 



