362 Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science. 
¢clods and clubs, firing guns, beating tin pans, and by grinding out music 
(God saye the mark!), on that invention of the devil, known as the horse- 
fiddle. A more diabolical instrument was never invented; nor one that 
could make noise more discordant or more terrifying. 
In its essential construction this machine consisted of a cylinder about 
eight to ten inches in diameter and a foot to 18 inches long, made of hard- 
wood, perhaps beech or oak. Teeth two to three inches long of hard but 
flexible hickory were set in holes arranged spirally around the e¢ylinder 
as are the teeth in the cylinder of a threshing machine. ‘The cylinder was 
then placed in a box from at least one side of which teeth projected in- 
ward. The ends of the box and the side in which the teeth were set were 
made heavy and strong, the three other sides being of thin resonant boards. 
The cylinder was provided with an axle which fitted in a hole in each end 
of the box, the axle at one end being long enough to have a handle or 
crank fitted to it by which the cylmder could be turned. Turning the crank 
caused the teeth of the cylinder to strike the strong teeth fixed to the box, 
and the noise made by the release was about the most discordant, ear-split- 
ting, and terrifying that can be imagined. A more effective means of stam- 
peding blackbirds has probably never been devised. It was also effective 
in frightening horses, cattle, and other live stock on the farm, and causing 
a runaway now and then if used near a public highway. This instrument 
of terror also did excellent service in the callithumpian concerts (or ‘bell- 
ings” or “shivarees” we called them), with which newly married couples 
in that land were usually honored. 
Carroll County: February 27, 1879. two seen, one collected; Mareh 1, a 
large flock seen near Camden. In the early days, favorite nesting regions 
were the Harness swamp south of Burlington, the Maple swamp west of 
Burlington, and in and about all the small woodland ponds. After the 
swamps and ponds had been drained, these birds resorted to the pine, spruce, 
cedar and other trees about the farm houses and even in the towns. 
Monroe County: May 18, 1882, nest with two eggs incubated perhaps four 
days; February 27, 1885, several seen. A number of pairs nested each year 
in pine trees in Bloomington and in Turner’s grove. 
127. HESPERIPHONA VESPERTINA VESPERTINA (WW. Cooper). 
EVENING GROSBEAK. (514) 
An erratic, usually rare, winter visitant. 
On January 22, 1887, Charles H. Bollman shot one (a male) of this rare 
species on the University campus at Bloomington. On the same day Cal. 
Meridith and a companion saw a flock of 12 from which they collected five 
near Frankfort (near the south line of Carroll County). A few days later 
two examples were seen near Frankfort. On April 27, 29 and 30, examples 
were noted at Bloomington by G. G. Williamson. On February 1, 1890, H. 
N. MeCoy captured one from a flock of 20 to 30, near Lafayette. 
128. CARPODACUS PURPUREUS PURPUREUS (Gmelin). PURPLE FINCH. (517) 
In Carroll County frequently seen late in the autumn and again 
£ 
