BIRDS OF MINNESOTA 343 
PASSERINA CYANEA (L.). (598. ) 
INDIGO BUNTING. 
This beautifully plumaged bird has been observed in nearly 
every locality I have visited within the State, and is reported 
from many others as a regular summer resident, breeding inits 
wonted places. It arrives with great uniformity the first 
week in May in this latitude, and commences the building of its 
nest usually in the third week. This is found more commonly 
in thickets bordering or interspersing woods where briers and 
brambles are abundant, and is built in the branches or 
tangle from very near to three or four feet above the ground, 
completely sheltered by the foliated canopy. It is formed 
usually of leaves and coarse grasses exteriorly, and a good 
supply of fine roots and fibrous barks constitute the bulk of it 
interiorly, finished with some horse hairs. The eggs, five in 
number are white, and annually two broods are raised. Mr 
Lewis found its young as early as June 8th, in Pipestone, and 
Dr. Hvoslef at Lanesboro as late as July 21st. 
Its habits are usually more familiar to persons residing iw 
the rural districts than to professional experts whose ambition 
for extended notes is liable to question whether it does not. 
incline to more extended travel. After all of my own desul- 
tory observations through quite a long life, it has been no 
uncommon experience to have a rural friend give me hints and 
points on the habits of many species of our birds which sub- 
sequent observations, thus directed, have proved of great 
value. Yet, in common with all conscientious students of 
bird-life, I have long since learned to accept nothing from 
such sources until it was verified by personal observation, 
except I qualify the record. Under such qualifications I will 
say that one of the most critical observers of the characteris- 
tics of birds, who resided for many years in one of the most 
favored localities, told me that at considerable intervals he 
had seen instances of the Indigo Bird’s mounting, hovering 
and warbling its humble notes for a few moments in the man- 
ner of the Sky-lark. As I never witnessed such a demonstra- 
tion or met with any record of it elsewhere, I leave it with 
this bare mention. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Male, blue, tinged with ultramarine on the head, throat, and 
middle of breast; elsewhere with verdigris-green. Lores, and 
23 z 
