412 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



of the harmonious strains which nearly always greeted our ears when 

 we were in the vicinity of their homes" ( Birds of Eastern North 

 America"). 



"Their notes very much resemble those of the Indigo-bird, but 

 lack their energy and are more feeble and concise" (B., B., and R.). 



The GRASSQUIT (608. Tiaris bicolor) of the Bahamas has been once 

 recorded from Miami, Florida. 



The MELODIOUS GRASSQUIT (603.1. Tiaris canora) of Cuba, has been 

 once recorded from Sombrero Key, Florida. 



604. Spiza americana (Gmel.). DICKCISSEL. Ad. <? in summer. Head 

 and sides of the neck ashy gray; forehead tinged with yellow; a yellow line 

 over the eye and one on the side of the throat; a black patch on the throat; 

 chin white; breast yellow, spreading down on to the white belly; back 

 streaked with black and pale grayish brown; rump brownish ash; lesser wing- 

 coverts rufous; wings and tail fuscous. Ad. & in winter. Has less yellow 

 and a more or less concealed throat-patch. Im. <? Resembles 9. Ad. 9. 

 Similar, but the head grayish brown, streaked with blackish, and with no 

 black patch on the throat and less yellow on the breast, which is sometimes 

 lightly streaked with black. L., 6'00; W., 3'20; T., 2'35; B., '55. 



Range. -E. N. Am., and n. S. 

 Am. Breeds chiefly in Austral zones 

 from ne. Wyo., nw. N. D., nw. 

 Minn., s. Mich., and s. Ont., s. to s. 

 Tex., and s. Miss.; formerly bred on 

 the Atlantic coastal plain from 

 Mass, (casually wandering to Maine) , 

 to S. C., but now extremely rare e. 

 of the Alleghanies; winters in n. S. 

 A.; accidental in L. Calif., Ariz., 

 Man., N. S., and Jamaica. 



Washington, formerly "very 

 abundant," now seen only occasion- 

 FIQ. 109. Dickcissel. (Natural size.) ally, May-Aug. Cambridge, casual, 



found nesting at Medford, June 9, 



1877, where several birds were observed; not uncommon in 1833-34 (see 

 Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, III, 1878, 45, 190). N. Ohio, rare S. R., May 1. 

 Glen Ellyn, rather rare and local S. R., formerly common, May 3-Sept. 5. 

 SE. Minn., common S. R., May 11-Aug. 20. 



Nest, bulky, of coarse grasses and leaves, lined with finer grasses and 

 sometimes long hairs, on the ground or in low trees or bushes. Eggs, 4-5, 

 pale blue, '80 x '60. Date, St. Louis, Mo., May 23; Avondale, Ohio, May 

 14; Powesheik Co., Iowa, May 28. 



Prior to 1880 these birds were more or less common in the middle 

 Atlantic States, but they are now of rare occurrence east of the Alle- 

 ghanies. In Texas I have seen them migrating in closely massed flocks 

 of several hundred individuals, all silent, except for an occasional 

 cack. They alight on the prairie to feed; birds in the rear are constantly 

 arising -and passing to the front ; there is ceaseless motion. 



In the summer Dickcissel makes his home in grassy fields and 

 pastures, and from a weed stalk or bordering fence, with uplifted head, 

 he announces his presence as though life itself depended on his vocal 

 exertions. It is a poor song from a musical standpoint, but pleasing 

 because of the singer's earnestness. 



