586 ' THE BLACK-THROATED BUNTING. 



we found no bird. Presently we heard the same song in a 

 bush near by, and having a good view of the bird, fired as 

 before, again seeing it fall, as we thought, but once more 

 failing to find it. The same illusion was repeated, at another 

 point, the third time, and only after the fourth shot did we 

 take the bird. This was something I never could explain. 



Evidently Audubon was mistaken as to the nest and eggs 

 of this species. The nest is a loose and bulky structure, 

 some 3 inches deep and 5 in diameter externally; internal 

 diameter 2.50 and depth 2.00; composed of grasses, weed- 

 stalks, and such other coarse vegetable material as the 

 locality may afford, and lined with fine grasses, finished 

 generally with horse-hair. It is sometimes placed in a tus- 

 sock of grass, but generally a few feet from the ground in 

 a bush or hedge, or it may even be five feet from the ground 

 in a small tree. The 4-5 eggs, some .75X.60-.85X.62, and 

 so about the size of the Bluebird's eggs, are generally so 

 nearly like them in color as to be indistinguishable. 

 Generally, however, they are a shade darker, and occa- 

 sionally are specked with dark brown or blackish. 



This species seems inclined to a local habitat, choosing 

 level fields of rich meadow, with heavy or clayey soil. It is 

 said to be rare in sandy regions. On the whole, it is rather 

 southern in its range. Wintering outside of our boundaries, 

 and entering the Middle States early in May, or certainly 

 by the middle, it reaches the Connecticut Valley, Northern 

 Ohio I have never seen it in the northern counties of 

 Western New York and corresponding latitudes as far 

 west as Nebraska and Colorado. It breeds throughout its 

 range, and is much more abundant in the south and south- 

 west than at the north, which latter part it leaves certainly 

 by August. The food of this species is that of its family 

 in general seeds and insects. 



