1891] MAEYLAND ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 129 



Passerina cyanea (Linn.). Indigo Bunting. 



The " Indigo Bird," as this is commonly called, arrives here 

 early in May ; it is consequently one of the later birds in its 

 return. All through the summer it is a most abundant song- 

 ster, and in the autumn we have observed it as late as the 5th 

 of October. While resident here it chiefly frequents the borders 

 of woods, but it may also be seen on trees and shrubs next the 

 roadside, or near the buildings on the farm ; at other times it 

 likewise perches on the wire of the telegraph lines. From its 

 color and habit of remaining unconcealed it becomes well known 

 to our farmers, who call it by the name of "Little Blue Bird." 

 This bird has a very pleasant little song, which suggests the 

 syllables " Di-a," repeated four or five times, and finished with 

 a high-pitched but not sharp note. This song is renewed with 

 great persistence, while the bird rests fully exposed to view on 

 the branch of some tall tree or the telegraph wire. 



The nest is placed on a bush, not far from the ground. One 

 nest was found by the writer on a small sassafras tree, about four 

 feet from the ground, which was suspended by three twigs. It 

 is built chiefly of grass, sometimes with pieces of rags on the 

 inside. The eggs are white, with a bluish tinge. A nest was 

 found by me as late as second week in August, in which were 

 three young birds, probably not more than two or three days 

 old. Returning to the nest shortly thereafter the young ones 

 were absent, although they could hardly have been old enough 

 to fly. 



Spiza americana (Gmel.). Dickcissel. 



The neighborhood of Baltimore does not seem to be one of 

 the favorite localities for the residence of this bird. Although 

 there are times when it appears to be rather common here, at 

 other times we have been unable to detect a single specimen, 

 even in places where it was previously to be found, and where 



