136 INDIGO-BIRD. 



In the cage it may be kept on precisely 

 the same food, and treated exactly like 

 the adult birds of that species. During 

 the spring they may, however, be given 

 insects, though chopped hard-boiled egg 

 will answer equally as well. They are 

 especially fond of the leaves of the com- 

 mon garden beet, (Beta vulgaris,) on which 

 I have frequently seen them feeding, in 

 company with thS Yellow-bird, (F. tristis.) 



The colour of the male Indigo-bird is a 

 brilliant verditer azure, deepening on the 

 head and neck into a rich dark blue. The 

 plumage of the female is a dingy yellow 

 and olive-brown colour. 



On one occasion, on a moonlight night 

 in June, while seated at the door of a 

 friend's country residence, enjoying at the 

 same time the cool breeze and the delight 

 of a "Davenport Regalia" cigar, I was 

 particularly struck with the song of one 

 of these birds, who sat on the highest one 

 of an adjacent clump of trees. At the 

 moment I penned the following effusion, 



