the bushes and over the ground. At such times they -vie in song. On all sides their 

 peculiar music is heard, especially when several males are in pursuit of a female, 

 "who with affected coyness leads them a rapid chase through the tangled maze of bush 

 and foliage, and as they ardently follow her each gives voice to a gushing strain of 

 melody which blends into a whole, marking their track as it were by a continuous 

 stream of music." 



To my ear the song is very beautiftil. I am unable to compare it with any other 

 bird inelody with which I am acquainted. It consists of a succession of loud, clear, 

 mellow, and extremely sweet notes, interspersed with tinkling trills and a few twittering 

 sounds. The whole is flowing forth like a clear rushing stream, ever new and ever 

 charming, being as beautiful as it is indescribable. Prof. Robert Ridgway, who has a 

 very fine ear for bird music, describes the song in the following w^ords : 



"It has been a matter of surprise to us that writers who have described the habits 

 of the western birds, have not mentioned more particularly the vocal capabilities of this 

 bird, w^hich in sprightness and continuity of song has few, if any, rivals among the 

 North American Fringillidss. Words entirely fail to describe its song, which, among the 

 oak groves of California, as well as on the prairies of Illinois, is pre-eminent for the 

 qualities above mentioned. As the bird perches upon the summit of a small tree, a fence 

 post, or a telegi'aph wire, his notes may be heard throughout the day — in the morning 

 before those of any other, and late in the evening "when all else but this unweary 

 songster are silent; indeed, often have we been awakened at midnight by a sudden 

 outburst of silvery warblings from one of this species. This song is composed from a 

 series of chants, each syllable rich, loud, and clear, interspersed with emotional trills. 

 At the beginning the song reminds one of that of the Indigobird, but the notes are 

 louder and more metallic, and their delivery more vigorous. Though seemingly hurried, 

 it is one continued gush of sprightly music; now gay, now melodious, and then tender 

 beyond description, — the very expression of emotion. At intervals the singer falters, as if 

 exhausted by exertion, and his voice becomes scarcely audible; but suddenly reviving in 

 his joy, it is resumed in all its vigor, until he appears to be really overcome by the effort." 



In the post-oak region nest-building begins early in May. The nests are built in 

 very different situations. As a rule horizontal limbs of trees are chosen. The first nest 

 which I found May 5, w^as placed in a dense young mulbeny tree, about six feet fi-om 

 the ground. It was scarcely ten feet from a much frequented veranda and near the 

 main walk. The structure was artfully hidden among the branches and shaded from 

 the fierce rays of the sun by a dense canopy of leaves. The main material used in the 

 construction were the soft white stems of Gnaphalium, arranged in a circular manner. 

 A few grass-blades, bark-strips, rootlets, strings, and fine hair of cattle also entered 

 into the composition. The lining consisted of horse hair. Scarcely ten yards from this 

 nest I found another one in the comer of a rail fence which enclosed a cow pen. This 

 was constructed exactly in the same style as the one above described. A third one was 

 discovered near by in an old Woodpecker's hole, and in such cavities quite a number of 

 nests were discovered later. In the following spring several pairs even occupied nesting 

 boxes which I had put up near my house to accommodate the Bluebirds and Tufted 

 Titmice. Nests in cavities are not built in the substantial manner just mentioned. 



