has is an air-castle. In fancy, he sees a spouse and young ones in this castle, but 

 all he has there is a little pile of sticks. This is no home — nor does he sleep here. 

 Yet no famed hero ever "struck for his altars and his fires" more valiantly than 

 he. Was there ever another such a case of living in the imagination? He is still 

 sending out his charming appeal today — Aug. 15th — as he has been doing for a 

 month and more. Now what would he do with a mate should Jenny come at 

 last? \\'ould he try to rear a brood this late in the season? Perhaps he knows 

 of that other Wren two blocks down the street who has four young ones that will 

 not leave the nest till August 24th. and wishes to outdo him. Or is it true, as some 

 believe, that Wrens, Bluebirds, Song Sparrows, ^leadowlarks, Thrashers, Flick- 

 ers and Catbirds, mate for life; and does he merely want her to come and look 

 into the castle to see if it will suit her for next summer, and then go south with 

 him on a honeymoon with the comfortable assurance that there is a home ready 

 for her when they return in the spring? What will he do with her should she 

 come" We hope he will not have to take the long journey alone. 



Length, about 7 inches. Distinguished by its larger size from the indigo bird 

 which alone resembles it. 



Range : Breeds in the southern United States north to northern California, 

 Colorado, Nebraska, southern Illinois and ^laryland and south to southern ^lexico ; 

 winters in Mexico and Central America. 



One seldom sees the blue grosbeak at short range or under circumstances 

 which make identification easy, as the bird is rather shy and frequents brushy 

 thickets and viny tangles much as does the indigo bird. The low warbling song 

 of this grosbeak may be compared with that of the purple finch, but it is neither 

 so loud nor so well sustained. Under the name of "blue pap" the grosbeak used 

 to be a favorite cage bird in Louisiana and other southern states, and no doubt is 

 so today, despite protective laws. In the matter of diet it shows a marked prefer- 

 ence for insect food over vegetable, the proportion being about 67 to 33 per cent. 

 The vegetable matter includes many weed seeds, as foxtail and bindweed, also 

 com, the taking of which makes a black mark against its record. As. however, 

 the bird consumes twice as much animal matter as vegetable, the balance is much 

 in its favor and it accordingly earns protection as well by its economic service as 

 by its beauty and song. 



{Guiraca caeridea and subspecies). 



651 



