126 THE WILSON BU LLETIN— September, 1921 



Rose-breasted Grosbeak {Zamelodia hidovickina) . 



A common migrant and nesting species. My first seen dates 

 are from May 1 to 20. Nearly every farm grove has its pair of 

 grosbeaks, and tliey are also common in the trees of the towns. 

 Indigo Bunting {Passcrina cjiaiiot). 



A rare breeder and migrant. A pair once nested in the town 

 of Wall Lake. I have found them tolerably common in June and 

 July along the Raccoon river at Sac City. Mr. Joe Abernathy also 

 reported seeing four pairs there. 

 Dickcissel (Spiza (Dnerkana). 



An abundant migrant and breeder. First seen dates vary from 

 May 3 to 27. It usually nests in the hayfields, although somestimes 

 nesting in the tall grass of pastures or along fence rows. I have 

 found only one nest placed directly on the ground and that was 

 on top of a "bog" in a wet pasture. Usually the nests are placed 

 a few inches up among the grass or weed stems. The nests are 

 frequently destroyed by the early cutting of clover fields. I have 

 found many of the eggs while loading hay. 

 Lark Bunting {Calaiiiospiza mclcnuicort/s) . 



I first identified this species May 19, 1908, when I saw three 

 males in a flock with some cowbirds. They were about the size of 

 bobolinks and had the white wing patches characteristic of lark 

 buntings with all the rest of the plumage black. I did not see it 

 again until May 9, 1914, when I saw one male and heard it sing. 

 On the 22d I again saw one male; either the same oi" another, I 

 am not sure which. 

 Scarlet Tanager (Plranga crythronxhis) . 



The scarlet tanager is a rare migrant at Wall Lake. I have 

 seen it only three times: May 22. 1905, June 9, 1907, and May 18, 

 1909. Mr. Lee repoi'ts it as a rare nesting species at Sac City. 

 Mr. Joe Abernathy reported seeing four pairs there. 

 Purple Martin (Prognc siibis siibis). 



A common nesting species in the various towns of the country. 

 Only in the fall, pi-evious to migi-ation, does it range any distance 

 over the surroimding country. First seen dates i« spring are from 

 April 15 to 29. 

 Cliff Swallow (Prtrochclidon lioii Irons hoiifroiis) . 



An abundant migrant and formerly a common breeder. Al- 

 though I think it still nests in some parts of the county, I do not 

 know of any definite nesting records in recent years. First seen 

 dates in spring are from April 29 to May 27. In the fall it is 

 abundant, flying over low pastures along the streams in company 

 with barn, bank, and tree swallows. 

 Barn Swallow (Hinindo crythrogasfra) . 



A common migrant and breeder. Nearly every farmer's barn 

 and most bridges have this swallow's nest in or underneath them. 



