100 INDIGO BIRD. 



vania on the second week in May, and disappears about the 

 middle of September. It is numerous in all the settled parts 

 of the middle and eastern States; in the Carolinas and Georgia 

 it is also abundant. Though Catesby says that it is only 

 found at a great distance from the sea, yet round the city of 

 New York, and in many places along the shores of New 

 Jersey, I have met with them in plenty. I may also add, on 

 the authority of Mr William Bartram, that " they inhabit the 

 continent and sea-coast islands, from Mexico to Nova Scotia, 

 from the sea-coast west beyond the Apalachian and Cherokee 

 mountains." * They are also known in Mexico, where they 

 probably winter. Its favourite haunts, while with us, are 

 about gardens, fields of deep clover, the borders of woods, and 

 roadsides, where it is frequently seen perched on the fences. In 

 its manners it is extremely active and neat, and a vigorous 

 and pretty good songster. It mounts to the highest tops of ,a 

 large tree, and chants for half an hour at a time. Its song 

 is not one continued strain, but a repetition of short notes, 

 commencing loud and rapid, and falling, by almost impercep- 

 tible gradations, for six or eight seconds, till they seem hardly 

 articulate, as if the little minstrel were quite exhausted ; and, 

 after a pause of half a minute, or less, commences again as 

 before. Some of our birds sing only in spring, and then 

 chiefly in the morning, being comparatively mute during the 

 heat of noon ; but the indigo bird chants with as much ani- 

 mation under the meridian sun, in the month of July, as in 

 the month of May ; and continues his song occasionally to the 

 middle or end of August. His usual note, when alarmed by 

 an approach to his nest, is a sharp chip, like that of striking 

 two hard pebbles smartly together. 



Notwithstanding the beauty of his plumage, the vivacity 

 with which he sings, and the ease with which he can be reared 



fore provisionally added its present name, not wishing to interfere where 

 I am acquainted with the intentions of another. It appears to range 

 with the Tanagrince. — Ed. 

 * Travels, p. 299. 



