OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 337 



Its song consists of a few short syllables repeated 

 loudly and rapidly at first, but gradually diminish- 

 ing in pitch, until it becomes almost indistinct, and 

 finally ceasing altogether. It resembles tshe-tshe- 

 tshe. When the male is ready for a song, it 

 perches upon the summit of a small tree, and 

 utters his notes with considerable vim, for hours 

 at a time, with but brief intervals of repose. In 

 the heat of the day, when the most of his feathered 

 brethren are silent and have sought the cool and 

 refreshing shade, he still iterates his musical ditty 

 with nearly the same ardor and vigor as in the 

 cool of the morning. Through the entire months 

 of May and June, he continues to sing with all the 

 power that characterized him at first, relaxing this 

 power, however, during the ensuing months, when 

 he is heard at irregular intervals, and before his 

 departure becoming almost silent. Even during 

 the breeding-period he essays an occasional ditty 

 to relieve the ennui of his mate while engaged in 

 incubation. The song of the Indigo Bird resembles 

 tsewe-tslch-tsich-tse-we-tsich - tsich-tse-we-tsich, pro- 

 duced very hurriedly and with a rather indistinct 

 articulation. 



In about six days after their arrival, mating 

 commences. This accomplished, a suitable local- 

 ity is selected for building purposes. A nest is the 

 joint and mutual labor of the sexes. A brier-bush 

 in the midst of a thick cluster, is ordinarily chosen. 

 Very 7 seldom is an isolated bush selected. The 

 centre of .a patch is available for the obvious 



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