82 INSESS0RE8. 



affection tor the sweet and sprightly notes with which 

 he cheers us so early in the Spring. Although par- 

 tially migratory, yet in the warmer parts of Pennsyl- 

 vania and New Jersey he may be considered as a 

 perraanent resident. Here his notes are heard in 

 advance of the Bluebird. His song is not possessed 

 of much variety, but is uttered with great force and 

 sweetneg^i. Most birds become quite silent after the 

 broodinfj season is passed, but not so with our little 

 Sparrow ; he sings with as much animation in the 

 Autumn as in the Spring ; and sometimes even in 

 the depth of Winter his clear and cadenced voice 

 may be heard among the low bushes which skirt our 

 woodlands. 



The Indigo Bird, as its name implies, is gifted 

 with a coat of the deepest and most brilliant blue. 

 It is quite a small bird, about the size of the Chip- 

 ping Sparrow, and in addition to its gay and attrac- 

 tive plumage, is possessed of a fine song. Mounted 

 upon the top of a tall tree, it will sit for half an hour 

 and chaunt its simple lay, which somewhat resem- 

 bles that of the Canary, but is not so varied, com- 

 mencing with a loud clear warble, and gradually fall- 

 ing for six or eight seconds until it is scarcely audi- 

 ble, and after a short pause repeating it without 

 variation. Its favorite haunts are about gardens, 

 clover-fields, the borders of woods, and the road- 

 sides, where it may often be seen perched upon a 

 fence-stake, singing with great vivacity. The female 

 is not possessed of the same brilliant livery as hei 



