BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS, 321 



this bird its name, belong exclusively to the male ; the female 

 and the young wear plain flaxen dresses. The young males of 

 the first year have a little blue in their buff colored plumage ; 

 this increases as the bird grows, and it is not till the third year 

 that it acquires the azure with green reflections, which makes 

 the mature bird so ornamental to the village scenery. It is 

 sometimes difficult to determine whether it is blue or green, so 

 rapidly does it change in different lights, as it glances in the 

 sun. 



The nest of the indigo-bird is usually in a low bush, some- 

 times in vines ; in the former case, it is suspended between 

 two twigs. The outside is composed of coarse grass and 

 withered leaves ; the lining is of grass and hair. The eggs are 

 greenish white and unspotted, according to Nuttall ; Wilson 

 says, blue, with a purple blotch at the larger end ; Audubon 

 says, " with a blotch or two of purple." As to these singular 

 discrepancies, I have already remarked, that this part of the 

 subject is greatly in want of attention. 



The WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, Fringilla leucophrys^ is one 

 of the finest of this family of birds. It is seen here, but very 

 rarely, on its way to the north in the spring. Audubon de- 

 scribes its nest, which he found in Labrador, and speaks of its 

 notes as very plaintive and sweet. 



The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, Fringilla Pennsylvanica, 

 is much more abundant than the last. It attracts attention by 

 its size and beauty, and still more by its song, which, though 

 unvaried in tone, and slowly and solemnly uttered, is neverthe- 

 less, as heard in May mornings, one of the most delightful melo- 

 dies of spring. It is not known in what manner it performs its 

 migrations ; the first news we have of its coming is from its own 

 plaintive note, heard from the borders of the fields. The spar- 

 rows move in companies, and frequent hedges and thickets, 

 where they run upon the ground and scratch for seeds. On 

 any alarm, they plunge into the deepest shade ; but when free 

 41 



