Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 561 



her; in 1901 it was first seen April 3, after which it was frequently 

 seen and heard. In 1902, it was noted June 19 and 20. 



It is a domestic liitle bird and may be seen about the cottages, 

 and farmhouses, where its nests, constructed largely of horsehairs, 

 may be found in the shrubbery. 



119. FIELD SPARROW 



SPIZELLA PUSILLA (Wilson) 



Tolerably common summer resident. Noted July 8, 1899; Sep- 

 tember 30, 1900 ; March 31, and April 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 

 18, 22, 24, 26, and on to May 28, 1901 ; October 24, 1904 ; August 16, 

 1906 ; and September 22, 1907. 



120. SLATE-COLORED JUNCO; SNOWBIRD 



JUNCO HYEMALIS (Linnaeus) 



Abundant in flocks during winter, usually on upland, associated 

 with tree sparrows. Our earliest fall records are: October 8, 

 1899 ; October 25, 1900 ; October 21, 1901 ; October 19, 1902 ; Oc- 

 tober 14, 1906 ; October 12, 1907 ; and October 4, 1913. Our latest 

 spring record is April 28, 1901. 



As the time for their spring departure approaches they become 

 quite musical, and their cheerful spring song may be often heard 

 in the last days of March and in April until they leave. 



That the black snowbirds change color in the spring and be- 

 come song sparrows, and that song sparrows change back to black 

 snowbirds in the fall, is a widespread belief among the non-orni- 

 thological in northern and central Indiana. 



121. SONG SPARROW 



MELOSPIZA MELODIA (Wilson) 



Abundant, especially in the jungly thickets and bushy places 

 along the shore where it finds protection. It probably stays in 

 the region the year round (it certainly did in 1900-1901, and in 

 the winter of 1904-05 so long as observed, to January 3), and it 

 sings all winter through. One can probably hear it every month 

 in the year and on every bright day of winter. During the winter 

 it finds a good deal of food scratching in the washed up piles of 

 Chara and other weeds along the water's edge. At the end of 

 September, 1913, one was observed eating Chironomus insects. 



Noted almost daily during our stay at the lake in 1906, singing 

 almost constantly every bright day. It is susceptible to weather; 



