Birds of Indiana. 937 



1896, and were found in abundance into November. They also were 

 noted at Bloomington. The earliest arrival at Brookville is October 

 14, 1896. That fall and the succeeding spring they were generally 

 distributed in the Whitewater Valley, but were not abundant. Nc- 

 vember 17, 1883, I found them everywhere along the Whitewater 

 Eiver bottoms in countless numbers. 



Roadsides, fence rows, weedy banks and thickets, corn and stubble 

 fields, all were alive with their fluttering wings, while the crackling of 

 weed seeds and their peculiar note added voice to the scene. They 

 were present in great numbers throughout the winter. Were last seen 

 April 37. Some years they are not seen after February or March; 

 others, they remain until late April or May. In spring they frequent 

 the evergreen trees about our homes, as well as the native cedar, 

 where they sometimes are found in company with the Crossbills; also, 

 elms, maples, apple, and other deciduous trees, where they, with 

 habits somewhat resembling the Purple Finches, associate with them 

 while feeding. The spring of 1885 they remained at Brookville until 

 May 11, while the spring of 1887 they generally remained, not leaving 

 until May 5. They were remarkably abundant at Richmond, where 

 they remained until May 34 (Hadley); Lafayette, May 39 (L. A. and 

 CD. Test); Petersburg, Mich., May 13 (Trombley). Dr. Jordan took 

 a specimen near Indianapolis in midsummer (Brayton). One was ob- 

 served at Wabash, with Goldfinches, several times between June 10 

 and SO, 1893. They were feeding on mulberries (Wallace). The last 

 ones to remain in spring are very shy. They frequent the higher ever- 

 greens in little companies, and, after sitting quietly for a time, all 

 utter their lisping "cree" together, sometimes repeating it two or 

 three times. After an interval of silence they repeat the call. Dr. 

 Wheaton thought it probable it breeds in northern Ohio, and Davie 

 gives it as breeding in Michigan (Nests and Eggs of N. A. Birds, 1889, 

 p. 393). Nests, with eggs, have been found from near the first of May 

 until near July 1. Dr. A. K. Fisher took a nest of this species at 

 Sing Sing, N. Y., May 35, 1883 (See Ridg., B. 111., p. 889). 



124. Gbnus PLBCTROPHBNAX. STEjSiiGEE. 



206. (534). Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). 



Snowflake. 



v'lynonyms, Snow Bunting, "White Snowbird. 



Adult, Breeding Plumage. — White, middle of back, terminal half of 

 primaries, and tertiaries, and two middle tail feathers, black; legs and 

 bill, black. Adult in Winter. — ^White; head, rump and breast, brown- 

 ish; back, brown and black, streaked; wings, fuscous; bill, yellow. 



