DICKCISSEL. 



89 



the 127 stomachs examined was there any fruit skin round, and the 

 seeds in the stomachs were often broken, and were usually eaten at a 

 time when the whole berry or fruit was not obtainable. Thus, seeds 

 of blueberries and elderberries Avere foimd in stomachs collected in 

 March, and broken stones of grapes and blackberries in stomachs col- 

 lected in May. It is obvious that the fruit to which these seeds orig- 

 inally belonged had been destroyed long before the birds picked up 

 the seeds. 



DICKCISSEIi. 



( Sj) iza ame r icana. ) 



The dickcissel (see fig. 18) formerly raised its broods over a con- 

 siderable j>ortion of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains ; 

 but two or three decades ago it abandoned the Eastern States and 



•&:V^ 



Fig. 18.— Dickcissel (Sjjiza americana). 



now rarely breeds east of the Allegheny Mountains. In antnmn it 

 migrates to Central and South America. In some localities it is 

 known as the little meadowlark, because its coloring is like that of 

 the meadowlark, even to the black locket on the breast of brilliant 

 yellow. Most sparrows are gregarious, but dickcissels move about 

 in pairs or little family groups. In many places they are so numer- 

 ous that a score of individuals may be found in every haj'field and 

 meadow; and the species is as characteristic of such localities as the 



