BIRDS OF INDIANA. 925 



Length, 4.45-5.40; wing, 2.60-2.90; tail, 1.80-2.10. 



EANGE. North America, from southern California and Gulf coast 

 north to Labrador, Manitoba, and British Columbia. Breeds from 

 Virginia, Kentucky and Kansas, northward. Winters from southern 

 Ontario and northern United States, southward. 



Nest, usually in upright fork of tree or bush, 5 to 25 feet up, a neat 

 structure of grass, bark strips and plant fibres, closely woven, and lined 

 with plant down. Eggs, 3-6; pale bluish-white; .65 by .52. 



Eesident; rare some winters, northward. Most persons fail to recog- 

 nize the bright, black-winged, black-capped yellow bird of May and 

 June in the mottled plumage of September. In spring the bright 

 plumage is taken on, and in September the duller winter plumage 

 begins to replace it. During the greater part of the year these birds 

 associate in flocks, wandering about as they are attracted by desirable 

 food. While these birds are always present, the same individuals are 

 not. Those which winter with us pass northward, and the bright- 

 colored ones, who have changed their dress farther south, come upon 

 us quite suddenly, with the bursting of the apple blossoms each spring. 

 They usually come to the Whitewater Valley in the latter part of 

 April, but, in 1883, arrived April 12, and in 1884, not until April 30. 



With the advent of those in brighter colors, the ones which have 

 been feeding upon the buds of elms and other early flowering trees, 

 leave. They do not mate upon arrival, but postpone their nesting 

 until quite late. The earliest I observed them mating was May 9, 

 1887. Nests may generally be looked for after July 1, but sets of 

 eggs are sometimes found in August and September. Their song is 

 an ecstatic effort that is very pleasing. It is loud and has a peculiar 

 flute-like quality that adds attractiveness to its brilliant effort. The 

 strain may be written thus: chit, chit, chit-o-ree-e, repeated with 

 trills and expressions indescribable. Besides, it is continued into July 

 and sometimes August, and becomes more conspicuous, because many 

 of its rivals have, long before that, ceased to sing. In 1897, I last 

 heard it July 22. As it gallops through the air, apparently riding the 

 wind-waves, its rythmic note has been interpreted by Mr. F. M. Chap- 

 man as "per-chic-o-ree," "per-chic-o-ree." When feeding in spring 

 among the tree-buds, it has a note, "co-ree," "co-ree," which a number 

 sometimes utter together. But all through the year they have a soft 

 "tweet" that readily distinguishes them. They are the seed destroyers 

 par excellence. Sometimes it is something desirable, like the seed of 

 lettuce, turnip and hemp, but more often it is the baneful dandelion, 

 burdock, mullein, and other pernicious weeds. Sunflower seed is a 



