950 REPORT or STATE GEOLOGIST. 



it is apparently becoming more numerous. They first appeared in 

 Franklin County about 1877. They were rare in Monroe County in 

 1886 and 'in Carroll County that year they were noted as "until re- 

 cently very rare" (Evermann). In 1871 they were rare in Lake 

 County (Aiken), and are still reported as rare in Dekalb (Mrs. Hine) 

 and in Cook County, 111. (Tallman, Parker). 



In the southern part of the State they may be found in pairs or 

 small flocks from April 15 to May 10, and in the northern part they 

 are noted from April 25 to May 12. The following are the earliest 

 and latest dates of its first arrival in spring at the places mentioned: 

 Spearsville, April 11, 1897, April 18, 1894; Brookville, April 18, 1885, 

 May 11, 1882; Elkhart, April 23, 1891; Cook County, 111., May 9, 

 1896, May 12, 1894; Petersburg, Mich., April 26, 1897, May 5, 1888. 

 With us, when they arrive, they are first seen upon the sandy 

 fields and weedy and grassy bottom lands along the rivers. Later, 

 they frequent open fields having fence rows grown up with bushes or 

 adjoining sparse woodland; also, the neighborhood of shady highways, 

 along which they spend the sunny days, and from which they enjoy 

 the pleasures of a dust bath. They are readily recognized as they fly up 

 ahead of the passing traveler, and exhibit their decided markings and 

 rounded tail, each feather so beautifully tipped with white. I find 

 them mating early in May. May 3, 1881, is the earliest date, and that 

 was the date of their first arrival that year. With us, the nests are 

 placed in bushes, in a thicket or along a fence. It is also said to nest 

 at the foot of some weeds on the bare ground (Nelson), and in corn- 

 fields, where the nest is put at the foot of a cornstalk (Eidgway). They 

 begin nesting in May and continue well through June. Mr. V. H. 

 Barnett found a nest at Spearsville, June 18, 1897. June 10, 1897, 

 I found young able to fly near Brookville. I found four pairs of these 

 birds nesting along a public highway near Brookville that year in a 

 distance of less than a mile. They have a beautiful song, in some 

 respects reminding one of the Indigo Bird's notes. 



After the young are reared, most of the birds leave through July 

 and August. Sometimes they collect in considerable flocks. One that 

 Mrs. Hine observed near Sedan, August 16, 1887, contained about 

 fifty birds, and Mr. V. H. Barnett saw one August 4, 1897, in Vennil- 

 lion County containing twelve. Some, however, are found in Septem- 

 ber, October and even November. The following are the latest dates 

 of its fall occurrence: Plymouth, Mich., September 15, 1894; Sedan, 

 Ind., September 15, 1892; Lafayette, October 13, 1885, November 3, 

 1894; Greensburg, October 29, 1894. 



