316 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION. 



The male apparently to a considerable extent shares the duty of incubation, for he 

 has quite as frequently as the female been discovered on the nest. The sitting parent 

 is not readily disturbed, often remaining until almost touched by the hand. 



The Rose-breasted Grosbeak continues in song through May and June, but does 

 not appear to sing much after the middle of July, its song not having been heard 

 later than July 10 (1893). 



This species has been observed in the latter part of July feeding upon the seeds 

 of the milkweed (Asclepias Syriaca.} 



GENUS PASSERINA VIEILLOT. 

 127. Passerina cyanea (LINN.). 



Indigo Bunting. 



A summer resident; ordinarily abundant, yet apparently not every year equally 

 numerous. The earliest date of its spring arrival is April 24 (1892), though it does 

 not usually appear until the second week in May. It remains until October, and 

 while not observed later than the seventh of the month, this perhaps does not repre- 

 sent the limit of its stay. 



The species is found on both the uplands and the bottoms, although it seems to be, 

 at least locally, more abundant on the latter, where in late summer and in the fall it 

 assembles into small flocks, frequenting then chiefly the thickets and patches of high 

 weeds. At this time it is often associated with other Sparrows, particularly the Field 

 Sparrow and the Song Sparrow. For a bird so common, its nests seem in this locality 

 to be easily overlooked, since a large amount of careful searching has resulted in the 

 discovery of but a single nest containing eggs, this being on June 22, 1890. 



The song of this species may be heard from the time of the bird's appearance in 

 spring until late in July, but it has not been detected later than July 30 (1893). On 

 one occasion a male was observed singing on the wing, much after the manner of the 

 Bobolink, continuing his song until in soaring flight he reached the ground. 



GENUS SPIZA BONAPARTE. 



128. Spiza americana (GMEL.). 



Dickcissel; Black- throated Bunting. 



A rare summer resident. Arrives in May, the third of the month being the 

 earliest date recorded. It was not observed during 1893. The writer is informed by 

 Mr. W. E. Henderson that this species was present in much more than ordinary 

 numbers and was common during the summer of 1894. A nest containing four fresh 

 eggs was taken by the same gentleman on July 8 of that year. 



The Dickcissel is almost exclusively a bird of the upland fields, being very rarely 

 noted anywhere on the bottom-lands, even in the spring. 



