8 BIRDS OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY. 



ffirdndo erythroyastra, The Barn Swallow is also very common. 

 Its nest is always inside and usually attached to a beam or rafter of 

 a barn or similar structure. 



Tachj/ineta bicolor, The White-bellied Swallow is not common ex- 

 cept locally. It nests in bird-boxes like the Martin. 



Cotyle riparia, The Bank Swallow, Ground Swallow or Sand Mar- 

 tin is not uncommon. Its nest is placed in a hole several feet in 

 length, excavated by the bird, in a bank of fresh earth, usually the 

 bank of a creek. The swallows all arrive about the middle of 'April 

 or a, little later. 



Pyrangu rubra, The Scarlet Tanager, about the size of the blue- 

 bird, is perhaps our most brilliant forest bird. It is bright scarlet ex- 

 cept the wings and tail, which are black. It arrives early in May 

 and is a summer resident, but not very common. 



The Fringittidae, or Finches, are a large and interesting family. 

 They may be distinguished by their thick, strong bills. Nearly all 

 of them are singers of greater or less ability, and many of them are 

 among our most delightful vocalists. They are mostly birds of the 

 field, rather than of the forest. As a rule they are plainly colored; 

 yet there are marked exceptions. I have made the acquaintance of 

 seventeen of them, as follows: 



Carpodacns piirpurens, The Purple Finch, or Sin net, has a very 

 vigorously warbled song, which it sometimes pours forth almost un- 

 ceasingly for hours. It is common, arriving from the South in 

 March. 



A*tragalirnt tristis, The American Goldfinch, Yellow-bird or 



Thistle-bird, though not much given to rendering it, has a beautfnl 

 song. Even his most ordinary notes have a sweetness and apparent 

 good nature that cannot fail to make him a favorite. It usually ap- 

 pears in April in small numbers, though there is little certainty 

 about the time of its coming. It sometimes remains nearly all win- 

 ter. Although an early arrival, it does not build its nest till several 

 weeks later in the season than other birds. As the reason of this, 

 it has been suggested, that they wait for the thistle sweds, which 

 largely form the diet of the young birds. 



PlectropJianes nivalis. The Snow Bunting, is a not very common 

 winter visitor. 



Passcrcultis smidirichcnw'ft Savanna, The Savanna Sparrow is u 

 rarely noticed though not uncommon species. With several other 

 plainly dressed little birds it is carelessly called "Ground Bird" by the 

 inattentive observer. 



