THE INDIGO BIRD. 375 



Mourning Warbler hops in very gracefully, scans me 

 thoroughly, and leaves, without salutation, remarks upon 

 the weather, or any expression of opinion whatever. Next 

 comes a Yellow-backed Blue Warbler, equally curious and 

 nervous in his movements, and perfectly reticent. Then a 

 Song Sparrow, which, ever since my approach has been keep- 

 ing up a constant racket, to the great alarm of the whole 

 neighborhood, comes within a few feet of me, scolding and 

 jerking his tail in a very unamiable manner. Like certain 

 individuals of another species, he prolongs his call and his 

 loquacity far beyond my pleasure. At length all is quiet, 

 and the owner of the nest appears. It is the female Indigo 

 Bird. A little smaller than a Canary, but almost precisely of 

 the same form and structure, she is of a plain brown, lighter 

 underneath, and dusky on the wings and tail. A fine voiced 

 male, too, is singing near by, which is probably her mate, 

 all unconscious of the peril of his family. His song is quite 

 unique, and therefore easily recognized when once well 

 noted. A sort of hurried warble, quite fluent, and yet 

 seeming to stick in the throat a little, this melody is one of 

 the most common in thickets, along the edges of forests, 

 and about the borders of swamps. Its tones are musical, 

 being loud at first, but growing faint at the last, as if the 

 singer were exhausting his lungs; and it is as likely to be 

 heard in the heat of noon as in the cool of the early morn- 

 ing. 



The mature male, some 5.75 long, is blue, shading into 

 ■dark indigo about the head, and tinged with greenish on 

 the back; wings and tail black, edged with blue. This bird 

 is generally finer in the bush, however, than in the hand. 

 As the male requires several years to come to maturity, 

 many are spotted, by the mixing in of dull brown or gray 

 feathers, and so, on examination, appear quite shabby. 



