BIRDS OF MINNESOTA 343 



PASSERINA CYANEA (L.). (598.) 



INDIGO BUNTING. 



This beautifully plumaged bird has been observed in nearly 

 every locality I have visited within the State, and is reported 

 from many others as a regular summer resident, breeding in its 

 wonted places. It arrives with great uniformity the first 

 week in May in this latitude, and commences the building of its 

 nest usually in the third week. This is found more commonly 

 in thickets bordering or interspersing woods where briers and 

 brambles are abundant, and is built in the branches or 

 tangle from very near to three or four feet above the ground, 

 completely sheltered by the foliated canopy. It is formed 

 usually of leaves and coarse grasses exteriorly, and a good 

 supply of fine roots and fibrous barks constitute the bulk of it 

 interiorly, finished with some horse hairs. The eggs, five in 

 number are white, and annually two broods are raised. Mr 

 Lewis found its young as early as June 8th, in Pipestone, and 

 Dr. Hvoslef at Lanesboro as late as July 21st. 



Its habits are usually more familiar to persons residing in 

 the rural districts than to professional experts whose ambition 

 for extended notes is liable to question whether it does not 

 incline to more extended travel. After all of my own desul- 

 tory observations through quite a long life, it has been no 

 uncommon experience to have a rural friend give me hints and 

 points on the habits of many species of our birds which sub- 

 sequent observations, thus directed, have proved of great 

 value. Yet, in common with all conscientious students of 

 bird-life, I have long since learned to accept nothing from 

 such sources until it was verified by personal observation, 

 except I qualify the record. Under such qualifications I will 

 say that one of the most critical observers of the characteris- 

 tics of birds, who resided for many years in one of the most 

 favored localities, told me that at considerable intervals he 

 had seen instances of the Indigo Bird's mounting, hovering 

 and warbling its humble notes for a few moments in the man- 

 ner of the Sky-lark. As I never witnessed such a demonstra- 

 tion or met with any record of it elsewhere, I leave it with 

 this bare mention. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Male, blue, tinged with ultramarine on the head, throat, and 

 middle of breast; elsewhere with verdigris-green. Lores, and 



23 z 



