146 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



Genus HABIA Reichenbach. 



[B 380, R 244, C 289, U 595.] 

 /labia ludoviciana (Linn.). Rose -breasted Grosbeak. Summer 

 resident; common, arriving the last of April, and remaining until the 

 last of September. It nests in orchards and open woodland in the 

 vicinity of streams. The nest is placed at various heights — from eight 

 to forty feet from the ground — usually from ten to twenty. The eggs 

 are generally four in number, often three, and occasionally five. In 

 this vicinity it has never been found nesting in bushes, as has been 

 reported from many other localities. A fine albino of this species was 

 taken at Des Moines in July, 1885. The elegant plumage and melodious 

 song makes this species very desirable as a cage bird. 



Genus PASSERINA Vieii.lot. 

 [B 387, R 248, C 295, U 598.] 



Passerina cyanea (Linn.). Indigo Bunting. Summer resident; 

 common from the first week in May until September. 



Genus SPIZA Bonaparte. 



[B 378, R 254, C 287, U 604.] 

 Spiza americana (Gmel.). Dickcissel. Summer resident; abun- 

 dant from the last of April until October. It is one of the most familiar 

 species of the fields and meadows, where it may be seen perched upon 

 the top of some weed or small tree, uttering at short intervals its 

 monotonous notes. 



Family TANAGRID^. Tanagers. 



Genus PIRANGA Vieillot. 



[B 220, R 161, C 154, U 608.] 



Piranga erythromelas Vieill. Scarlet Tanager. Summer resident; 

 common. In central Iowa it arrives about the last of April, and remains 

 until the middle of September. A rather retiring bird, usually met 

 with in the timber bordering the streams. Breeds about the last of 

 May. The nest is usually placed upon a horizontal limb, thirty or 

 forty feet from the ground, and almost invariably contains, besides its 

 own eggs, from one to three of the cowbird (Molothrus ater). 



[B 221, R 164, C 155, U 610.] 

 Piranga rubra (Linn.) Summer Tanager. Rare. During the 

 season of 1880, this species was observed at Des Moines, and three 

 nests with eggs taken, but since then has not been noticed in that 

 vicinity. One of the nests taken July 23d, contained two eggs about 

 half incubated. The nest was placed on the horizontal limb of an elm 

 tree in a rather open grove, and was about fifteen feet from the ground. 



