THE IOWA OBNITHOLOGIST. 



-9 



migrant in Van Buren county," 

 (IFilliam Savage.) "Shot a male on 

 October 8fch, 1892 from a flock of 

 eight, rather common migrant in 

 Lyons county," (C. E. Ball.) "Mi- 

 grant in Mahaska county; common in 

 tall grass along rail-roads," [W. A. 

 Bryan.] 



5S7- {SOI ) Piioilo erythrophthalmus. 

 (Linn.) 



lOWHEE. 



Very common; throughout the state 

 in suitable localities; "quite common 

 summer resident in Mahaska 

 county; inhabits quite open woods," 

 (W. A. Bryan.) "Have seen a few 

 in spring and fall in Winnebago 

 county; none in summer," (E. M. 

 Anderson.) ''Common summer resi- 

 dent in Van Buren county; nests on 

 the ground; a few stay throughout 

 the winter," (William Savage,) Mr. 

 Fred Hamlin, of Perry, Dallas county 

 leports finding a nest of this species 

 on July 24:th, 1894, which was placed 

 in a grape vine eight feet from the 

 ground. The eggs are three to five, 

 usually grayish or pinkish white, 

 specked with reddish-brown; nests in 

 May, June and July, 



BREAKS^ THE RECORD. 



A nest of "Pipilo erythrophthalmus'' 

 placed fourteen feet from the ground, 

 in an osk tree which had a wild grape 

 vine twining about it; the nest was 

 placed on a horizontal limb, five feet 

 from the trunk of the tree, and com- 

 posed of leaves, corn-husks, weed- 

 stems and grass, lined with fine 

 grass, the whole making quite a bulky 

 nest. It was foui^d on August 5th, 



1894, and at that date contained two 

 young birds which were nearly half- 

 fledged. The old male Towhee was 

 near the nest, and the female on the 

 nest when it was first found. Mr, 

 William and W. G. Savage, William 

 Edwards and David L. Savage (all 

 interested in the study of birds,) were 

 present when the nest was found, it is 

 undecided which saw the nest first, 

 but each one can testify that the 

 identity is sure. 



The Cowbird often lays its eggs in 

 this birds' nest. I have found as 

 many as five of the Cowbird'e eggs in 

 a single nest of the Towhee. 



5i)3 [299'] Cardinal^ cardinalis. (Linn.) 

 GAEDINAL GEOSBEAK. 



Common in southern portions of 

 the state; not reported in northern 

 parts; "on March 27th, 1894, I shot a 

 fine male specimen of this species; 

 have it mounted in my collection; 

 this is the first one secured in Jackson 

 county, that I know of," (H. J. Gid- 

 dings.) "Very common in Mahaska 

 county; nesting in low bushes," [W. 

 A. Bryan.] "Common but not abund- 

 ant in Van Buren county; nests are 

 are very poorly built, and usually 

 about six feet above the ground in 

 thorn bushes; it is a resident," [Will- 

 iam Savage.] 



595— {289. Llabia ludoviciana. (Linn.) 



EOSE-BEEASTED GEOSBEAK. 



Common throughout the state; May 

 to September; sweet singej; "abun- 

 dant summer resident in Winnebago 

 county nesting in trees almost any- 

 where," jE. M. Anderson.] "Com- 



