PASSERINA CYANEA : INDIGO-BIRD. 283 



and probably not quite covering the whole of our ter- 

 ritory. With its rich plumage, vivacious manners, and 

 persistent though not very brilliant song, it becomes 

 one of the more conspicuous of our summer birds. It 

 enters Connecticut early in May, and by the middle 

 of that month is generally dispersed. Being of little 

 hardihood, this representative of a decidedly southern 

 genus takes early departure in the fall, scarcely re- 

 maining through September — in fact, it is hardly to 

 be seen, except in southern districts, after August. It 

 is found on the edges of woods, along the roadsides, 

 in neglected fields, and also in orchards and gardens, 

 where the male is sure to attract attention by his mo- 

 notonous ditty. The plainly-clad female, busy with 

 her household affairs, is less often seen. The nest is 

 built in a bush or low shrubby tree, often quite close 

 to the ground. It is not artistic — in fact rather bulky 

 and slovenly, and not at all such a structure as one 

 would expect from a bird so dainty. It is built of the 

 most miscellaneous vegetable fibre, and generally sets 

 in the upright crotch of the bush ; weedstalks, twigs, 

 twine, coarse grasses, and the like make up the bulk 

 of the nest, which is simply lined with similar but finer 

 materials. The eggs, to the usual number of four or 

 five, vary so much that very different descriptions of 

 them have been published. Wilson and Audubon make 

 them out to be always spotted ; but they are like Blue- 

 bird eggs, very pale blue, or bluish-white, sometimes 

 almost white, and are generally unmarked, though 

 occasionally having a few dots. They average 0.75 X 

 0.55 in size. The eggs are laid about the first of June, 

 and a second set is said to be deposited late in July in 

 lower New England, 



