Plate IV. 
CYANOSPIZA G) AN E A— l ndigobird. 
The Indigobird arrives about the first, of May; from this time until fall, his spirited warblings 
can be heard along the public roads and by-ways, from the humblest bush to the topmost branch of the 
forest tree, the brilliantly plumed male pours forth his melodies, seeming to make of the summer months 
one. continual round of holidays. Nest-building begins the last of May or first of June, and as late 
as August nests containing fresh eggs may be met with. The late nests, however, are not abundant, 
and are evidently the property of birds raising a second or even a third brood. 
LOCALITY: 
Thickets of briers, bushes, and young trees along roads or about the borders of fields and streams, 
and outskirts of timber-land, are the most frequented nesting places ; they rarely venture into deep 
woods or large towns. In the hilly country in the southern part of the state, the nests are not as 
common as they are in the plains ; and, when found at all, are near the cultivated valleys or strips 
of recently-cleared land. 
POSITION : 
The nest is ordinarily situated near the ground, seldom higher than eight or ten feet ; it is usu- 
ally placed in a perpendicular fork, but, it may be built among a number of twigs or brier-stems, or 
saddled upon a limb and firmly held by slender branches at the sides. Nests are undoubtedly built 
directly on the ground, but such a position must be considered as exceedingly rare. 
MATERIALS: A 
The materials of construction, and dimensions of five nests procured in different sections of the 
state, and from various positions, are as follows : 
No. 1. Outside diameter, three and three-eighths; outside depth, two and one-half; inside diameter, 
two and onc-eighth ; inside depth, one and three-quarters, inches. Position : perpendicular fork of elder 
bush, upon a high river -bank. Foundation: dried oak leaves, fine rootlets, and a few small weed- 
stems. Superstructure : dried blue-grass and bits of oak leaves, with a very few fine rootlets. Lin- 
ing : slender blades of blue-grass and several long black horse hairs. 
No. 2. Outside diameter, three and one-half; outside depth, two and three-quarters; inside diam- 
eter, two and one-half ; inside depth, one and one-half, inches. Position : perpendicular fork of small 
elm by the roadside. Foundation: pieces of oak leaves and corn husks, and fine weed-stalks. Su- 
perstructure: oak leaves, roller-grass, and rootlets, held in place without by an abundance of cob- 
webs. Lining: fine round grasses and black horse hairs. 
No. 3. Outside diameter, three and one-half; outside depth, three; inside diameter, two and one- 
eighth ; inside depth, one and three-fourths, inches. Position : horizontal fork of dogwood tree in thick 
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