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SOME MINOR SONG-BIRDS. 161 
blue-bird in its nest-habit offers for our study 
one of those curious contradictions now and 
then appearing in nature. Instead of building 
a graceful nest, swung airily amid the fragrant 
foliage, it dives into some gloomy, unsightly 
hole in a rotten stump or tree, and there, like 
the kingfisher in his subterraneous cavern, 
rears its brood. Querulous, saucy, bold, this 
beautiful little creature has endeared itself to 
every observer. 
Our indigo-bird, bluer than the last- nate 
singer, eat AGS: as common, has attracted 
comparatively little attention. Its song is 
really fine, though delivered without expres- 
sion, or any show of interest. One must ap- 
proach very close to get the full sweetness of 
the frail, faltering strain which can be heard 
but a little distance. When it is caught in its 
completeness, however, the melody is so child- 
ish and tender that one forgives the inartistic 
manner of the delivery. The scientific name 
of this bird is Passerina cyanea, the specific 
part meaning dark-blue, and it may be identi- 
fied easily by that color covering its head and 
shimmering with a greenish gleam over its 
back. Its nest is rather sketchy, built with 
little care, and set in a low bush, usually at a 
crotch. Its eggs are bluish white, sometimes 
slightly freckled. 
With a word about Wilson’s thrush I must 
close this paper. To my ear this bird’s voice 
is purer and richer than that of the famous 
wood-thrush. Its shy habits, and the chary 
parsimony with which it doles cut its vocal 
favors, have, no doubt, tended to prevent its 
becoming popular, even with good observers. 
There is a silvery ring in its higher notes and 
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