u 



INDIGO BUNTING. 



{Pftsserma Cyanea.) 

 This beautiful little songster arrives from his west- 

 ern haunts in early summer, and delights to mount the 

 highest tree-tops and pour out his exhaustless supply 

 of music so agreeable to listen to. With the exception 

 of the beak he is of a uniform indigo color all over and 

 is very pretty. They are about the size of a sparrow 

 and are common in briery places and in woods. They 

 are rather shy and do not come very near to our dwell- 

 ings, except when they first appear they are more fa- 

 miliar. The nest is placed in low thick bushes and bri- 

 ery situations; is composed of grasses. The eggs are 

 four in number, pure white, and a little pointed. 



BLACK-THROATED BUNTING. 



iSpiza Americana.) 

 This species has rather plain plumage with a black 



throat. It is very common in large waste fields and 



swamps. The nest is simple and very much like the 



last. The eggs, from four to six in number, are white. 



This is also a summer resident. 



BOBOLINK. 



{Dolichonyx Oryzixorus.) 

 This bird is rare in this vicinity, being found more 



abundantly in the New England States, arriving there 



early in spring. Its color is mainly black with some 



white, also chestnut red upon the breast. In the 



spring its song is noted for its sweetness and charming 



music, poured forth in unceasing strains. They are 



highly valued for food, and the southern markets are 



crowded with them in the autumn, where they are sold 



by the name of reed-birds. 



