Birds of Indiana. 983 



they arrive. Mr. V. H. Barnett found a nest, with two eggs, at Spears- 

 ville. May 14, 1895. They may be found nesting commonly late in 

 May and early in June. Sometimes two broods are reared in a sum- 

 mer. August 18, 1896, I found a nest and eggs at Brookville. Mr. 

 J. 0. Snyder informs me he has known these birds to use the same 

 nest two years in succession. The males continue in song well along 

 toward the first of August. I found one singing, August 3, 1897. 

 After they cease singing they are less conspicuous. They leave the 

 latter part of August and in September. The old males go first. The 

 latest dates at which they have been seen at the places noted are: 

 Manchester, Mich., September 10, 1894; Plymouth, Mich., September 

 15, 1895; Sedan, Ind., September 27, 1894; Lafayette, September 21, 

 1895; Trafalgar, September 26, 1897; Bicknell, September 29, 1895; 

 Brookville, October 14, 1896. 



They are so numerous, frequenting every place where bushes grow 

 about the farm, even to the small fruit garden, and can adapt them- 

 selves to many foods, that it is desirable that they receive the 

 fullest protection, for at any time they may prove of untold value in 

 assisting to hold in check some threatened outbreak of injurious in- 

 sects. Prof. King found that, of 19, 2 ate caterpillars; 1, 2 beetles; 

 1, a grasshopper; 1, raspberries; 1, elderberries; and 18 of them ate 

 seeds of various weeds (Geol. of Wis., I., p. 542). Prof. Forbes found 

 that 78 per cent, of the food of some he examined was canker-worms 

 (Kept. Mich. Hort. Soc, 1881, p. 204). He also notes they eat other 

 caterpillars, spring beetles, vine chafers, snout beetles and hemiptera. 



1-11. GbKus SPIZA Bonaparte. 



*234. (G04) Spiza americana (Gmil). 



Dickcissel. 

 Synonyms, Black-throated Bunting, Littlk Meadow Lark. 



Adult Male. — Top and sides of head, sides and back of neck, ash; 

 forehead, tinged with yellow; line over eye, one on each side of throat, 

 edge of wing, and breast, yellow; a black patch on throat and upper 

 breast; throat, lores, belly and under tail coverts, white; wing coverts, 

 chestnut; back, with black streaks; wings and tail, fuscous. Adult 

 Female. — Similar, except less yellow on the breast; black patch on 

 throat replaced by spots or streaks; top of head, more brownish. 

 Young. — Similar to female, but more buffy. 



Length, 5.75-6.80; wing, 2.80-3.30; t^il, 2.35-2.90. 



