ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. 101 



Genus HABIA Reich. 



Rose-breasted Grosbeak, natural size. 



248-5t)5-(281)). Habia ludOTiciana (Linn.). * Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Rose- 

 breasted Song Grosbeak. 



Common; throughout the Southern Peninsula at least; May to Sept.; "Mackinac 

 Island"' (S.E.White); "Keweenaw Point " (Kneeland); "said to be common in hard 

 wood district about Iron Mountain, but I have not taken it " (E. E. Brewster); beauti- 

 ful singer; often seen in flocks; breeds; Mr. L. W. Watkins informs me that he took a 

 male from a nest of five eggs, on which he was sitting; nests in May and June, in 

 orchards, tall shrubs, forest trees, etc., occasionally high up. E. B. Boies reports a nest 

 in a thorn bush, April 19, 1891. Eggs three to five, bluish green, dotted with brown; 

 "male often incubates" (R. H. Wolcott); very beneficial to the farmer and horticult- 

 urists, even eats potato beetles as I have observed on several occasions; Forbes says, 

 (report State Horticultural Society, 1881, p. 204) that 66 per cent of food of many exam- 

 ined, consisted of canker worms; L. W. Watkins informs me that this bird nests at 

 Manchester in low bushes, and also breeds at Traverse City; the song of this bird 

 is delightful. 



Genus PASSERINA Vxeill. 



249-598-(295). Passerina cyauea (Linn.). * Indigo Bunting; Indigo Painted 

 Finch; Indigo Bird; Blue Linnet. 

 Common; throughout the state; May to October; "Mackinac Island " (S. E. White); 

 •■ common at Iron Mountain " (E. E. Brewster); nests in May and June, in low bushes, 

 often in gardens; eggs four, white with a bluish tinge. Prof. S. A. Forbes (Bulletin 

 No. 3) found 78 per cent of the food of several which he examined to be canker worms. 



250-600-(298 part). Passerina versicolor (Bonap.). * Varied Bunting. 



Dr. Atkins reported taking this rare bird; said to have been observed in Michi- 

 gan by A. H. Boies. " I think I have seen it " (Dr. Robt. Ridgway); taken by Dr. Atkins 

 May 18, 1874, identified by Ridgway, and now in the collection of Dr. J. M. B. Sill, of 

 Ypsilanti (Dr. Atkins in O. and O., Vol IX, 1884, p. 81). 



Genus SPI2^ Bonap. 



251-604-(287). Spiza aniericana {Gviel.). *Dickcissel; Black-throated 



Bunting; Little Meadow Lark. 



Very common in some localities in Southern Michigan; rare at the college; "a 



recent arrival " (Dr. J. B. Steere); May to August; " occasional at Ann Arbor " (Dr. J. B. 



Steere); "Hillsdale County " (A. H. Boies); breeds; nests usually in bushes, sometimes 



