SOME MINOR SONG-BIRDS. 161 



blue-bird in its nest-habit offers for our study 

 one of those curious contradictions now and 

 then appearing in nature. Instead of building 

 a graceful nest, swung airily amid the fragrant 

 foliage, it dives into some gloomy, unsightly 

 hole in a rotten stump or tree, and there, like 

 the kingfisher in his subterraneous cavern, 

 rears its brood. Querulous, saucy, bold, this 

 beautiful little creature has endeared itself to 

 every observer. 



Our indigo-bird, bluer than the last-named 

 singer, and almost as common, has attracted 

 comparatively little attention. Its song is 

 really fine, though delivered without expres- 

 sion, or any show of interest. One must ap- 

 proach very close to get the full sweetness of 

 the frail, faltering strain which can be heard 

 but a little distance. When it is caught in its 

 completeness, however, the melody is so child- 

 ish and tender that one forgives the inartistic 

 manner of the delivery. The scientific name 

 of this bird is Passer ina cyanea, the specific 

 part meaning dark-blue, and it may be identi- 

 fied easily by that color covering its head and 

 shimmering with a greenish gleam over its 

 back. Its nest is rather sketchy, built with 

 little care, and set in a low bush, usually at a 

 crotch. Its eggs are bluish white, sometimes 

 slightly freckled. 



With a word about Wilson's thrush I must 

 close this paper. To my ear this bird's voice 

 is purer and richer than that of the famous 

 wood-thrush. Its shy habits, and the chary 

 parsimony with which it doles out its vocal 

 favors, have, no doubt, tended to prevent its 

 becoming popular, even with good observers. 

 There is a silvery ring in its higher notes and 

 ii 



