FRING-ILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 79 



of the lowest branch of a large sycamore immediately over a great thorough- 

 fare, and so near the ground that a person standing in a cart or sitting on a 

 horse could have reached it with his hand. The nest was composed mainly 

 of fragments of newspaper and stalks of grass, and though so low, was re- 

 markably well concealed by one of the peculiar clusters of twigs and leaves 

 which characterize this tree. The nest contained young when he discovered 

 it, and though the parent birds were much annoyed by his loitering about 

 beneath the tree, they paid but little attention to the stream of vehicles that 

 was constantly passing. It was a source of wonder to him when tlie birds 

 could liave built it, as they are so much shyer when building than at other 

 times. They must have worked mostly in the early morning, when they 

 could have the place all to themselves. The same observer also noticed 

 another pair of Blue Grosbeaks that had built their nest in a graveyard 

 within the city limits. This was placed in a low bush, and the male con- 

 tinued to sing at intervals till the young were ready to fly. The song of this 

 bird he describes as a rapid, intricate w^arble, like that of the Indigo Bird, 

 thouo'h stronger and louder. Indeed, these two birds so much resemble 

 each other in color, form, voice, manner, and general habits, that, were it not 

 for the difference in size, — the Grosbeak being nearly as large again as the 

 Indigo Bird, — he thinks it would be a hard matter to tell them apart. The 

 females of both birds are clad in the same reddish-brown suits, as are also 

 the young during the first season. 



The nest of this species has also been found built in a tree within the 

 grounds of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 



The only time I ever met with this species was at Carlisle, Penn., in June, 

 1843. The previous month Professor Baird had found its nest in a low tree, 

 in open ground, and we found these birds still frequenting the same grounds, 

 where we found another nest containing three eggs. It was in a low thorn- 

 tree on the edge of a wood, but standing out in open ground. Tlie nest was 

 about five feet from the ground. 



The Smithsonian specimens are from Carlisle, Penn., obtained in April, 

 May, and August ; from Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Mexico, etc. 

 Mr. Lawrence enumerates this among the birds found near New York City. 

 Mr. Dresser found it common near Matamoras in July and August. It was 

 breeding there, tliough, owang to the lateness of the season, he was unable to 

 procure any of its eggs. Dr. Coues speaks of it as generally distributed in 

 Arizona, but nowhere very common. A single specimen was taken near 

 Fort Whipple, August 10. TurnbuU regarded it as a rare straggler to the 

 southern counties of Pennsylvania and New Jerse}^ arriving there in the 

 middle of May. Dr. Woodhouse found it common in the Indian Territory 

 and Texas. Lieutenant Couch mentions seeing this bird first near Monterey, 

 the male always preceding the female. He speaks of tliera as exceedingly 

 tame. ]\Ir. J. H. Clark states that this bird was not often seen, and, when 

 observed, was generally solitary, preferring the dark ravines and the canons 



