BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 249 



tree blossoms. These birds, although found in almost every locality, 

 are most numerous in briery thickets, open woodland and in bushy 

 places along- fences and roadways. The nest, composed of leaves, dried 

 grasses, etc , is built in low bushes. The eggs are four or five, bluish- 

 white and unspotted ; seldom are they pure white, and rarely do we find 

 them spotted or thinly dotted with reddish-brown, but whatever may be 

 their coloration, they measure a little less than three-fourths of an inch 

 long, and a trifle over one-half inch wide. The female with her plain 

 brown dress, not unlike some members of the hiiman race when attired 

 in " mother-hubbards " and calico gowns, always shy and retiring 

 seems ever anxious to elude observation. The male, however, in his at- 

 tractive and showy garb of iridescent blues, seemingly is conscious of 

 his beauty, and appears eager to make his presence known. He perches 

 on the tops of high bushes, on the dead twigs and limbs of tall trees, on 

 the telegraph wires and fences, to sing his peculiarly vigorous and rapid 

 song. The sharp tship of the female never, however, fails to quickly call 

 to her side, this vain, noisy yet most devoted partner. Indigo-birds 

 feed chiefly on different kinds of small seeds ; during the breeding sea- 

 son many insects are eaten. They subsist also to a small extent on apple 

 and some few other blossoms ; various kinds of small berries are not 

 unpalatable to them. 



GENUS SPIZA* BONAPARTE. 

 Spiza ainericana (GMEL.). 



Black-throated Bunting ; Dickcissel. 



DESCRIPTION. 



This species varies considerably in its markings ; bill and feet grayish-black ; 

 length about 6 inches ; extent about 11 ; female a little smaller ; upper parts ashy 

 and brownish, the most conspicuous on middle of back, where and also on the scap- 

 ulars there are black streaks ; top of head tinged with yellowish-green ; line over eye, 

 streak from mandible, breast and middle of belly, and edge of wing yellow ; rest of 

 lower parts white, except a black throat patch of variable size ; wing-coverts bright 

 chestnut ; female similar but duller, and black throat patch usuallv absent or indis- 

 tinct 



* Spiza townsendii (Aud. ). 



Townsend's Bunting. From Dr. Ezra Michener's Birds of Chester county published in 1881. I take the 

 following remarks relative to this species, but one specimen of which has ever been taken, and it is now 

 in collection of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. D. C: "This unique bird was obtained by 

 my excellent friend, whose name it bears, in a cedar grove near my dwelling, while assisting me in col- 

 lecting birds in the spring of 1833. We at once pronounced it new. Audubon did the same, and named 

 and published it in both of his large works. This curious bird has long been a puzzle to ornithologists 

 in the uncertainty whether it is only a variety of S. americana (Black- throated Bunting) or a distinct 

 species. Thus far (now more than forty years) but one specimen is known, kindly presented to the 

 thsonian Institution by Dr. Michener. 1 do not feel able to decide the question of its true relation- 

 ship to the S. americana. While this uncertainty remains it seems proper that Chester county should 

 preserve a record of its history as a guide to future observers. " 



Sp. Ch.~ "Male. Upper parts, head and neck all round, sides of body and fore part of breast, slate 



; the back and upper surface ot wings tinged with yellowish-brown; the inter-scapular region streaked 



with black. A superciliary and maxillary line, chin and throat, and central line of under parts from the 



breast to crlssum, white; the edge of the wing, and a gloss on the breast and middle of belly, yellow. A 



ack spotted line from the lower corner of the ower mandible down the side of the throat, connecting 

 with a crescent of streaks in the upper edge of the slate portion of the breast. Length 5} inches- alar ex- 

 tent 9; wing3.8fi; tail 2. 5ti Inches." S. F. Baird. 



