BIRDS OF INDIANA. 907 



Some winters they are found in favorable places within the State. 

 Usually these are few, or even single birds, but sometimes they are 

 present in small flocks. The winter of 1878-79, one of these birds re- 

 mained about my home, at Brookville, feeding with the English Spar- 

 rows in the chicken yard and corncrib. 



They occasionally remain in Monroe County (Evermann). The 

 winter of 1896-7 they were reported from Hanover, January 11 (Cul- 

 bertson). That winter they remained at Greensburg (Shannon), and 

 at Bicknell (Chansler). Ulrey and Wallace say they are sometimes 

 seen in mid-winter in Wabash County. They were fouad at Waterloo, 

 January 18, 1890 (H. W. McBride), and Mrs. Hine says a flock of 

 Blackbirds remained at Sedan all the winter of 1891-2, and the winter 

 of 1893-4 they remained about Stony Lake. Mr. B. T. Gault saw a 

 Blackbird of some kind in Cook County, 111., in January, 1896; and 

 Prof. A. J. Cook gives it, upon the authority of Mr. Warren, as having 

 been seen in protected bottoms in St. Joseph County in January 

 (Birds of Mich., p. 105). 



Those that winter farther south begin to appear in great flocks in 

 southern Indiana in February and early March. At night they roost 

 in great numbers, associated with Red-winged Blackbirds and Cow- 

 birds, in some selected spot. The evergreens in my yard have for 

 years formed such a roosting place. They frequent it until the middle 

 of April. The older, more shady towns of Indiana are selected for 

 roosting places, both in spring and fall. The earliest and latest dates, 

 respectively, of first appearance at Brookville are February 17, 1882, 

 and 1890, March 11, 1889; they are usually common between March 8 

 and 14; at Sedan, February 27, 1893, and March 15, 1886; common be- 

 tween March 14 and 25; Petersburg, Mich., March 6, 1897, and March 

 18, 1891; common between March 15 and April 1; Cook County, 111., 

 March 23, 1886, and April 7, 1885. Again, will be observed the 

 earlier arrival of a species near Lake Erie. Soon after arrival they 

 begin a beautiful mating song. The birds gather at evening in groves 

 and the shade trees of lawns, even in towns, and sing in great glee. 

 This was continued in 1895 until April 28. I have seen them mating 

 by March 9, 1887. In the Whitewater Valley they prefer groves of 

 cottonwood, sycamore or other trees near water courses. Often they 

 begin building in southern Indiana early in April. I have found their 

 nests, apparently completed and occupied, by April 12, 1897, and in 

 1881 1 found them nesting May 9. 



Mrs. Hine reported their nesting at Sedan April 19, 1886, and Mr. 

 L. T. Meyer says they usuallv breed in Lake County by May 15. The 

 period of incubation is about two weeks, and both birds share that 



