FAUNA OF NEBRASKA. 123 



dred and forty-nine.* At least, that is the number whose eating 

 habits I have studied and described in a former publication. Since 

 the publication of that work, nearly a dozen additional species have 

 come to light within our territory. The fullest order is that of the 

 Perchers (Passeres), of which there are eighty genera and one hun- 

 dred and forty-seven species. Among these, the Singing Birds 

 (Oscines) are represented by sixty-nine genera and one hundred and 

 thirty-three species. The next division of this order, the Clama- 

 tores, are not so abundant, there being only eleven genera and four- 

 teen species. 



At the head of the Singing birds stands, of course, the glorious 

 Robin, which is becoming more abundant each year. Four addi- 

 tional species of Thrush are here. The Mocking Bird is sparingly 

 represented in south Nebraska, and the Cat Bird generally along 

 the timber belts of water courses all over the State. In places the 

 Sandy Mocking Bird is abundant. The common Blue Bird is in 

 every community. The Western Blue Bird, formerly rare, is in- 

 creasing in many places. Eight species of Wren, led off by the 

 House Wren, abound. The Blue-eyed Warbler is common in all 

 sections, but the Caerulean Warbler only along the wooded bottoms. 

 This genus (Dendraeca) of warblers is represented by fourteen 

 species, some of which are only here during their migrations. One 

 of them (D. disco/or) is very abundant, and breeds here. Of the 

 Thrushes, the Golden-Crowned is the most abundant, and breeds 

 within the State. One of the commonest birds is the Maryland 

 Yellow Throat, and is on the increase in all parts of the State. 

 Over the greater part of the State the Yellow Brested Chat is 

 found. Six species of Swallow make their summer residence here. 

 The most abundant is the Cliff Swallow. Its special home is in 

 northeastern Nebraska. On one chalk cliff, east of the town of 

 Niobrara, I counted twenty-one hundred nests which were made by 

 this bird. There were other points near bv where there were 

 almost as many. The purple Martin is also common, and breeds 

 here. 



The vireos are represented by seven species, the most abundant 

 of which is the Red-eyed Vireo, which can always be found in 

 summer in the timber belts along the Missouri and other rivers. 

 The Butcher Bird {Collurio borealis), which was formerly rare, is 



*See the writer's fauna] li-t .'Hid Natural Fou<] of Birds, published in Report of U. S. En- 

 tomological Commissions for 1878. 



