FH1N<;1I.LI1).K — Till'] [■•INCIIKS. 7!) 



of tlie lowest liniiu'.h of a liirtic sycaiiioro iminodiately ovcra .uivat tliorminli- 

 laiv, aiitl .so iioar tlio ^hi'oiukI lliat a jx-rson staiuliii^ in a cart or sitting on a 

 licirsu coiiKl liavo readied it witii his hand. Tlie nest was composed mainly 

 of fragiiaMits of news|)a]K'r and stalks of j^'rass, and though so low, was re- 

 niarkalily well concealed liy one of the iieculiar clusters of twiys and leaves 

 wiiicii characterize tins tree. Tiie ne.st contained young' when ho discovered 

 il, and lliougii tiu) ])arent hirds were mucli annoyed by his loitering about 

 beneath the tree, they ])aid but little attention to the stream of vehicles tliat 

 was constantly passing. It was a source of wonder to him wlien the biids 

 could have built it, as they are so nuicli sliyer when l)uilding than at otlier 

 times. They must have wt)rked mostly in the early morning, wlien they 

 could have the ])lace all to themselves. The .same ob.server also noticed 

 anotiier ]iair of Dlue CJrosbeaks that had l)uilt their nest in a graveyard 

 within tlie city limits. This was placed in a low bush, and the male con- 

 tinued to sing at intervals till the young were ready to tly. Tiie song of this 

 bird he descrilies as a rapid, intricate warble, like that of tlie Indigo Tlird, 

 though .stronger and h)iider. Indeed, tliese two birds so much resemble 

 each otiier in color, I'orm, voice, manner, and general liabits, that, were it not 

 for the dillerence in size, — the tlrosbeak being nearly as large again as the 

 Indigo r>ird, — he thinks it wouhl l)e a liard matter to tell them a]iart. The 

 females of both birds are clad in the same reddish-brown suits, as are also 

 the young during the lirst season. 



The nest of this sjiecies has also l)eon found built in a tree within the 

 grounds of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 



The only time I ever met with this species was at Carlisle, Penn., in June, 

 1S4M. The jirevious nioiitii I'rofessor r>aird had found its nest in a low tree, 

 in oiien ground, and we fouiul tlie.se birds still fre(iuenting the same ground.s, 

 where we found another nest containing three eggs. It was in a h)W thorn- 

 tree on the edge of a wood, but standing out in open ground. The nest was 

 aliout five feet from tlu^ ground. 



The Smithsonian s])eciniens are from Carlisle, I'eiin., ol)tained in April, 

 May, and August ; from (ieorgia, Texas, New .Mexico, Nebraska, Mexico, etc. 

 ^Ir. Lawrence enunu'rates this among the bii'ds Ibiind near Xew York City. 

 Air. Dresser fiamd it common iie;ir Matainoras in July and August. It was 

 breeding there, though, owing to the lateness of the .sea.son, he was unable to 

 ]irocure any of its eggs. Dr. Cones speaks of it as generally distributed in 

 .Vii/ona, but nowhere very common. A single specimen was taken near 

 Fort Whipple, August 10. Tiirnbull regarded it as a rare straggler to tlie 

 southern counties of Pennsylvania and Xew Jersey, arriving there in the 

 iniddle of May. Dr. Woodhouse found it common in the Indian Territory 

 iind Texas. Lieulenant Couch mentions seeing this bird first near .Monterey, 

 llie male always preceding the female. IIi' speaks of tlieni as exceedingly 

 tame. Mr. J. II. Clark states that this bird was not often seen, and, when 

 observed, was generally solitary, prei'erring the dark ravines and the canons 



