Widmann — A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 195 



where cornfields with corn on the stalk or in shocks are not far 

 away, and where they are found when nothing else is accessible. 

 The Redbird begins singing the middle of February, if it has not 

 done so earlier, and keeps it up until molt begins in the latter part 

 of August, when only the first attempts of young birds are heard - 

 in September. At this period, and until the molt is over in the 

 middle of October, the species is unusually shy and seclusive, 

 but on fine days in the latter part of October, and in fact some- 

 times even in winter, its song is as lively as in spring. 



*595. Zamelodia ludoviciana (Linn.). Rose-breasted Gros- 

 beak. 



Loxia ludoviciana. Guiraca ludoviciana. Fringilla ludoviciana. Cocco- 

 borus ludovicianus. Hedymeles ludovicianus. Goniaphea ludoviciana. 

 Habia ludoviciana. Loxia rosea. Coccothraustes ludovicianus. Rose- 

 breast. Redbreast. 



Geog. Dist. — Eastern United States and southern Canada; 

 breeds from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, northern Ohio and In- 

 diana, central Illinois, Missouri and eastern Kansas northward 

 to Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Assiniboia and Alberta. 

 In winter south of the United States to Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, 

 Central America, Ecuador and Colombia. 



In Missouri a common summer resident in the prairie and 

 Ozark border region, chiefly north of lat. 38° and occurring only 

 sparingly in the valleys of the northern slope of the Ozarks, 

 from Ste. Genevieve and Iron Counties to Lawrence and Jasper 

 Counties. On the southern slope of the Ozarks and in western 

 Missouri south of lat. 37° it is entirely replaced in the breeding - 

 season by the Blue Grosbeak. In the alluvial counties of the 

 southeast it is rare, but has been found once in summer on an 

 island near the southern boundary of Dunklin Co. The most 

 southern record of nesting in southwest Missouri has been fur- 

 nished by Mr. Nehrling, who observed a young bird with its 

 parents July 6, 1885, near Freistatt in Lawrence Co. In un- 

 usually favorable seasons the first Rosebreasts have made their 

 appearance at St. Louis as early as April 18 and 20, but the ma- 

 jority of dates range between April 22 and 29, for first males, 

 followed a few days later by the females. Birds of the second 

 year come with the bulk of transient visitants, which pass through 

 Missouri during the first week in May, when they are found in 

 regions where they do not breed (Shannon Co., May 2, 1907, 



