NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Ornithology of Southern Texas," says it is not uncommon during the sum- 

 mer months in the vicinity of Fort Brown, and thinks a few pass the 

 winter. They were usually seen in patches of briers and low bushes, at 

 no great distance from water, and were very tame. Two pairs built within 

 , the fort. One of the nests, found early in May, was in a bush about three 

 feet from the ground ; it was not pensile; placed between three upright 

 twigs, composed entirely of a peculiar yellow root. This was destroyed 

 by a violent storm before the eggs were deposited. A second nest found 

 May 25. placed in a young ebony-bush, four feet from the ground, was de- 

 serted immediately after completion. It was a delicate structure sup- 

 ported at the rim and beneath by twigs, and built of very fine, dry grass, 

 with a few horse hairs. Unfortunately no eggs were obtained. 



254. Black-throated Bunting — spiza Americana. Light blue, almost 

 exactly like those of the Bluebird ; in fact they are not distinguishable ; 

 usually four in number, sometimes five and measure .80 by .60. The nest 

 of the Black-throated Bunting is placed on the ground, in trees, and in 

 bushes. It is made of coarse grass, slender twigs, and is lined with finer 

 grasses and occasionally horse hair. In summer this bird can always be 

 seen perched upon a bending reed in some broad meadow pouring forth 

 his twittering song. In these places the nest is always snugly placed 

 under the shelter of a large tuft of grass or small bush. Breeds through- 

 out its United States range. 



Hab. Eastern United States, north to Massachusetts, west to Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, south to 

 Arizona, reaching the northern border of the U. S. 



256. Lark Bunting — calamospiza bicolor. Uniform light blue, 

 rounded-oval; four or five in number; size .90 by .65. Sometimes eggs of 

 this species are speckled. This is an abundant bird on the prairies of the 

 central plains ; north to 49° in the Missouri region, west to the Rocky 

 Mountains, and southerly to the Pacific. It utters the most delightful 

 songs, and its warbles are described similar to those of the Bobolink and 

 the soft cadence of the Skylark. The nest is placed on the ground, some- 

 times sunken even with the surface. It is composed of fine stems, grasses, 

 and lined with finer grasses and vegetable down. 



257. Bobolink — dolichonyx oryzivorus. Dull white, variously 

 tinged with light drab, olive, reddish and grayish-brown, intermingled 

 with lavender ; the general effect being that of a dark, heavily-colored egg. 

 The number laid is usually four, sometimes five, and measure about .90 

 by .65. In North America this familiar bird breeds from the 38th to the 

 54th parallel. In some parts of the country it is very abundant during 



