Birds of Indiana. 955 



intermittent warm southern breezes. The song is commonly inter- 

 preted, pe-pe-pe-hody, pe-body, and from it the singer has been named 

 the "Peabody Bird." Both this species and that last described are 

 scratchers, moving both feet together in turning over the leaves. They 

 are very persistent in this work, and "all is grist that comes to their 

 mill." Be it seeds or insects, they serve as food. 



A White-throated Sparrow was taken at Berry Lake, Lake County, 

 Ind., July 23, 1887, by Mr. E. A. Colby (Coale). While they may 

 rarely breed in the northern part of the State, I do not know that 

 they do. In Michigan they breed abundantly northward, and have 

 been found breeding as far south as Grand Rapids (Cook, Birds of 

 Mich., p. 114). They also breed abundantly in northern Wisconsin. 

 They remain with us in spring as late as they can. Often they are 

 seen mating, and some years, when they lingered long, they have 

 been observed carrying sticks, as though they had thought to begin 

 nest-building. Some year, when they remain late, I shall not be sur- 

 prised to learn that the imperative demands of nature have impelled 

 some of them to make their summer homes with us and build their 

 nests. In fall, some years, they cross the northern line of this State 

 near the middle of September, and linger in their journey south- 

 ward, feasting upon seeds, wild fruits and insects for a month or 

 more. At that season of the year, the present species and the last 

 are often associated with a number of other birds in a mixed com- 

 pany, frequenting thickets and weed patches. The following gives 

 earliest and latest fall dates of arrival and departure at the places 

 noted: Chicago, 111., arrived September 16, 1896, September 20, 

 1894, departed October 24, 1896; Sedan, Ind., arrived September 25, 

 1894, departed October 17, 1889, November 4, 1894; Lafayette, ar- 

 rived September 26, 1896, October 2, 1894, departed October 17, 

 1894, October 26, 1895; Greensburg, arrived October 3, 1896, October 

 19, 1894, departed October 28, 1894, November 17, 1896; Brook- 

 ville, arrived October 5, 1887, departed October 20, 1883; Bicknell, 

 arrived September 29, 1894, 1895, September 30, 1896, departed, 

 October 17, 1894, November 26, 1896. They winter abundantly in 

 the Gulf States. Mr. H. Nehrling says: "In southern Louisiana a 

 shameless slaughter' of our small song birds is going on throughout 

 ever)' winter. In the French Market of New Orleans we notice dead 

 Juncos, Towhees, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, 

 Thrashers, Thrushes, Robins, Warblers, etc., by the thousand. We 

 learn from Audubon that even in his time these birds were slaugh- 

 tered in innumerable numbers in Louisiana. In Texas they are not 

 much molested, except by negroes" (Birds of N. A.. Pt. XL, pp. 117, 



