ANDERSON— THE BIRDS OF IOWA. 329 



the Species is very inconspicuous durinj^ the latter part of sum- 

 mer, departing in September. The nests are placed in trees, from 

 eight to forty feet from the ground, usually not over fifteen feet, 

 in almost any situation — wild crab and plum thickets, orchards, 

 shade trees in yards, woods, or willows along streams, both in the 

 heart of town and in secluded situations: eggs laid during last of 

 Ma}- and first of June. 



The Rose-breasted Grosbeak frequently visits berry patches 

 and gardens and has a fondness for green peas, but it is largely 

 insectivorous. "Prof. C. K. Bessey of the Iowa Agricultural Col- 

 lege has noted the Rose-breasted Grosbeak's habit of feeding on 

 the Colorado potato beetle, and this useful propensity was again 

 remarked during the past year by a correspondent of Forest and 

 Stream , of Coralville, Iowa, and by another at Ames, in the same 

 state" (Am. Xat., xiv, 1880, pp. 521-22). On the whole, the spe- 

 cies is beneficial and should be protected. 



Genus Cyanospiza Baird. 



265. (598). Cyanospiza cyanca (Linn.). Indigo Bunting. 



The Indigo Bunting is a common summer resident in all parts 

 of the state from the early part of May until the last of Septem- 

 ber. It frequents low bushes and thickets, nesting rather late, 

 from the latter part of June until the middle of August. The 

 later dates are probably second sets, as the birds will build second 

 or third nests in the same vicinity if the first nest is destroyed. 

 The nest is rather loosely and slovenly built, usually with long 

 straws hanging down from the peripher)^ and seldom placed more 

 than four feet from the ground. The eggs are from two to four 

 in number, white or very pale bluish, unspotted, and the nest 

 very frequently contains eggs of the Cowbird. The female is a 

 plain brown bird, closely resembling a Sparrow, and very shy and 

 retiring, while the male, plumaged in rich blue, delights to perch 

 upon the topmost branch of a dead tree or on a telegraph wire 

 and sing for hours, continuing during the whole summer. 



Genus Spiza Bonaparte. 



266. (604). Spiza amcricana (Gmel.). Dickcissel. 



The Black-throated Bunting or Dickcissel is an abundant sum- 

 mer resident in all parts of Iowa, usually arriving early in May, 



