APPENDIX. 516 



CYANOSPIZA OYANEA. 



Indigo Bird. 



Cyanospiza ryanra Bu., Birds N. A. ; 1>158, 505. 



SP. Cn. Form, slender. Size, small. COLOR. Adult male, (jrecnish-blua tnrnughout, darkest anteriorly. AVin-j; 

 iui'1 tail, lirownLsh. Female, reddish-brown lightest beneath, and morn or less tinged with blue. In autumn, and Youni/, 

 similar to la-t liut dark throughout and old males are strongly tinged with blue. 



Observations. Known by the nearly uniform blue or brownish colors. Occurs in summer from Pennsylvania, north 

 to Canada, wintering south of our limits. DIMENSIONS. Length, 5'75; stretch, 8-50; wing, 2'62; tail, 2'10; bill, '75; tar- 

 sus, '65. 



Nests and Kgt/t. NESTS, placed in hushes, composed of grass, leaves, etc. Boos, four or five in number, oval in form, 

 pale bluish-gre^n in color, very rarely dotted with reddish-brown. Dimensions from '50x 70 to '60s '80. 



HABITS. 



The song of the Indigo Bird in Massachusetts, is a lisping warble, ending so abrupt- 

 ly as to appear half finished, but in Pennsylvania, this lay is so much clearer and longer, 

 that I did not, at first, recognize the author. These birds are fond of thorny thickets that 

 border old fields grown up to bushes, and the males may be seen perched on the top-most 

 limb of some tree, giving the peculiar song. The nests are placed low, often only a few 

 inches from the ground, and the eggs are deposited early in June. 



-SJGIOTHUS LINARIA. 



Red Poll. 



JSgiothus linaria CAB., Mus. llein.; 1851. 161. 



SP. Cii. Form, slender. Size, small. Color. Adult male. Above, and onsides of headandsides, yellowish-brown, 

 often hoary on rump. White beneath, with crown bright crimson and cheeks, throat, breast, andrumpare tinged with it. 

 Two bands on wings, yellowish-white. Femiite and Young, similar but lack the crimson beneath and on rump. 



Observations. Known by the crimson crown. Breeds in the far North; wintering from Canada to Pennsylvania. 

 DIMENSIONS. Length, 5 00; stretch, 8'55; wing, 3'10; tail, 2'75; bill, -35; tarsus, '50. 



Nests and Eyys. NESTS, placed in trees, composed of grass, moss, etc. F-GGS, four or five in number, oval in form, and 

 pale greenish in color, spotted near large end with yellowish-brown and dotted and lined with umber. Dimensions from 

 ;VJx-67 to - 55x'7u. 



HABITS. 



The little Red Polls come to us from the North in immense numbers, certain winters, 

 and are not found at all during others. While with us, they have very much the same 

 habits as the Gold and Pine Finches, and frequently associate with them. The call note 

 is, however, somewhat barsher than that of the latter named species, and the song which is 

 occasionally given in spring, is a continuous warble. 



PINICOLA ENUCLEATOB. 



Pine Grosbeak. 



Pinicula er,uclcalor CAB. Mus. llein ; 1851, 167. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Color. Adult male. General color, crimson-red with the feathers showing 

 darker centers; lores, sides of head and body, and under tail coverts, ashy; and there are two white bands on wings. Female 

 and Youny. Ashy, tinged with greenish-yellow on top of head, rump, and breast. 



Observations. Known by the large size and short, thick bill. Breeds in the far North; winter? from Canada to Penn- 

 sylvania. DIMENSIONS. Length, H-50; stretch, ll'HS; wins;, 4'50; tail, 4'00; bill, "57; tarsus, -85. 



Nests and Eyys. NE--TS, placed in trees, composed twigs, grass, etc. EGGS, three or four in number, oval in form, 

 pale bluish-green in color, spotted, dotted and lined with drown and umber. Dimensions, from '70 x '95 to - 75 x TOO. 



IIABITS. 



The Pine Grosbeaks are quite regular in their visits to us, the extent of their migra- 

 tions being governed wholly by the food supply. They are highly gregarious in habit, one 

 seldom being seen alone, and arc very tame; insomuch so, that I have frequently caught 

 them with a noose attached to a pole. When kept in confinement, they become very fa-i 

 miliar, making interesting pets. They feed on seeds of weeds and of pine and other cones, 

 :.* well as upon the berries of the cedar, savin, and mountain ash, and will even eat froz- 

 en apples. 



