1S4 



All this has jrreatly chanjietl. Some of these charaoteristic forms 

 liave almost disappeared, while the draiiiinir of the swamps and the le- 

 claimin.a: of the land have lessened the area favorable for the homes of 

 others. Few. indeed, are the numlters of most of these birds in this 

 Tejiion compared with the innumerable company that occupied it a half 

 century or mure ago. 



Field Sparrows (Spizella pusill:u. A'esper Sparrows (Poocietes gram- 

 ineus). Dickcissels (Spiza americanai. (Grasshopper Sparrows L\mmo- 

 dramus savannarum passerinusi and Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) 

 are representatives of those that sought the fields with Avhich man re- 

 placed the native woods. Others, such as the Bol)Olink (Dolichonyx oxy- 

 zivorus) and Prairie Horned Lurk (Oiocoris alpestrls praticola). also ex- 

 tended their range as favorable localities Avere found. At tlie time of 

 the settling of our State, the lireeding-grounds of the Bo1)olink within our 

 present limits were probaldy about the southern end of Lake }^Iicliigan. 

 extending southward over the prairies of the Kankakee Basin and east- 

 ward as far as the site of Rochester. Possibly some bred in the smaller 

 prairies in the northeastern part of the State. From these points they 

 have gradually spread sovithwaid. extending their lireediug range as far 

 .south as the counties of Union. Decatur. Marion and Vigo. They are 

 not numerous there: but nnder favorai)le conditions, a few may Ije 

 found at nesting time, enlivening the scenes of rural life Avith their 

 charming songs, as far south as has been indicated (Butler. Proc. 

 L A. S.. ISlMi). The Prairie Horned Larks, too, from practically the 

 same districts, have gradually been found to nest farther south until they 

 have been reported as breeding in Franklin, Decatur. .Tolnison. Monroe 

 and Knox comities. Following their extension soutlnvard. their ntimljers 

 have graduall.v increased until no\v they are familiar l)irds in many 

 places where they were tniknown a fi'w years ago (Butler. Birds of 

 Ind.. 18r>7. pp. 874-0). 



As tillable land is neglected and begins to grow tip in liuslies and 

 briers, other liirds press in to occupy such congenial haunts. The most 

 notable of these, perhaps, aie P.achman's Siiarrow (Pein-;ea aestivalis 

 baclimaniii. ihe Lark Spai-rovv (Cliondestts granmnicusi. the Cardinal or 

 common Kedbird (t'ardinalis cardinalis) and the Yellow-breasted Chat 

 ticteria virens). All these have been ol)served to be extending their 

 range, where conditions are favorable: but the extension, perhaps, is 

 the most striking in the case of the twf> sparrows first mentioned. 



