332 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



measure .84 x .65, .86 x .67, .87 x .65, .92 x .69, .94 x .68, .90 x .67, 1.07 x 

 .72, 1.07 x. 73. 



597. Guiraca cserulea (LINN.) [246.] 



Blue Grosbeak. 



Hab. Southern half of the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific; north regularly, but very 

 locally, to Pennsylvania, Kentucky, etc., rarely north to Massachusetts and even Maine; south in winter 

 throughout Mexico, Central America, Cuba, Yucatan, etc.* 



The Blue Grosbeak is nowhere an abundant bird but breeds 

 throughout its United States range, occasionally as far north as South- 

 ern Pennsylvania. In the west it is found in New Mexico, Arizona, 

 Colorado and California. Col. Goss gives it as a summer resident of 

 Kansas, being quite common in the Middle and Western portion ; be- 

 gins laying the last of May. A common species in the South Atlantic 

 and Gulf States. Mr. C. S. Brimley says that in the vicinity of Ral- 

 eigh, North Carolina, it begins nesting about the first part of June. 

 Mr. G. Noble, of Savannah, Georgia, has sent me a typical nest 

 which he collected in June. 



In Texas, it commences to build about the first part of May. Mr. 

 T. D. Perry has found eggs as early as May 10, slightly incubated, near 

 Savannah, Georgia, and fresh eggs as late as July 7, indicating that at 

 least two broods are reared in a season. The nest resembles that of the 

 Painted Bunting, being invariably lined with fine brown rootlets, and 

 occasionally it contains some horse hair. A characteristic of the Blue 

 Grosbeak's nest is that it almost invariably contains pieces of snake- 

 skin in the outer material of withered leaves and plants. It is placed 

 in blackberry bushes along road-sides and on the border of woods. 

 Mr. J. A. Singley, of Giddings, Texas, says that in Lee county a favorite 

 nesting place is in the vicinity of houses where the first growth of timber 

 has been cut down and a growth of low thick bushes replaces it. He 

 says he has taken the nest in peach, apple, hickory and post-oak trees, 

 ranging from fifteen to thirty feet. Mr. E. C. Davis states that in 

 Cooke county, Texas, this species usually nests in alder bushes in 

 swampy places. 



The eggs are three or four in number, plain light blue, and when 

 'exposed to light a little while, fade into dull white ; oval in shape and 

 average .84 x .66 On the 24th of May, 1887, Mr. Perry found a nest 

 containing four spotted eggs of this species. They were distinctly 

 marked with dots and spots of chestnut and subdued lilac. One of the 

 eggs was accidently broken ; the remaining three measure .87 x .63, .82 

 x .62, .82 x .62 respectively. 



* Within this habitat is also included the Western form of the Blue Grosbeak, G. ccerulea curhyncha 

 Coues, inhabiting Southwestern United States, north to Colorado, California, etc., south throughout Mexico. 



