148 FAMILIAR FEATURES OF THE ROADSIDE. 



to appear in the Arnold arboretum, near Boston, and 

 in the township of Campton, E". H., where patches 

 of snow still remain plentiful beside the road. 



One of the most charming little birds which fre- 

 quents the roadside and sings throughout August 

 is the intensely blue indigo bunting, or indigo bird 

 (Passerina cyanea). He is about five and a half 

 inches long. The blue is an even indigo-ultramarine, 

 darker on the head, wings (somewhat brown-tinged), 

 and tail ; indeed, it is a much "bluer bird than the 

 bluebird, and is perhaps more deserving of the name.* 



The nest is usually built among the bushes, and 

 in it there are generally four or five white or bluish 

 white eggs. The male bird has a really beautiful but 

 not strong, canarylike voice, with something of a lisp- 

 ing character. He sings in the top of a tree, and 

 very frequently close beside the road. I have timed 

 him on several occasions, and have found his song 

 from five to seven seconds long. It generally begins 

 with a moderate fortissimo and ends in a pianissimo 

 trill, or sometimes with two short faint notes : 



* The plumage, in parts, is iridescent, like that of the pea- 

 cock ; sometimes it appears quite greenish blue. 



