June 16tli I found the nest of an Indigo 
Bird containing four eggs. The bird that 
was on the nest looked like a Field Spar- 
row, so I shot it and it proved to be a male 
Field Sparrow. I saw only a female Indigo I Bird. 
O.&O. VIH. Oct. 1883. U i/' 
This season I have taken two sets of 
Indig o Bunting’ s, ( Passerina cyanea ), 
eggs, one of three, the other of four, in 
each of which two eggs are marked with 
pale brown and lavender spots. /<£ Q. 
'ypll{/\/Q' trc&ft/ t let/' 
O.&O. IX. Sept. 1884. p. t o<j 
Notes on Nests of the Indigo Bird 
and Towhee Bunting. 
BY W. E. H., FAIRVIEW, W. VA., (PANHANDLE). 
On the 18th of August, 1883, the writer found 
in a mass of Blackberry briers on the border of a 
wood, within a radius of nine feet, two nests, one 
that of the Towhee Bunting and the other of the 
Indigo Bird, each not less than three feet from the 
ground, and containing 3 and 4 fresh eggs respect- 
ively. In connection with this circumstance the 
writer deems three things as noteworthy. First, 
tlie close proximity of said nests. Rarely, if ever, 
has he found nests of different species within so 
short a distance of each other and occupied sim- 
ultaneously, although it may occur nftener than 
his own observations would indicate. It would, 
perhaps, be a matter of interest were correspon- 
dents of the “O. and O.” to note instances of this. 
A second feature of interest was the lateness of 
the season of the occurrence of said nests. It is 
generally supposed the Indigo Bird, like the Scar- 
let Tanager, is quite sensitive to the frosts of our 
northern climates, and observations in this lati- 
tude pretty generally agree, that, as it is among 
the latest of Spring arrivals, it is among the first 
to take its departure in the Fall. The finding 
therefore, of a nest of this bird, with freshly laid 
eggs, after the middle of August, the writei be- 
lieves to be, at least, quite extraordinary. 
A third interesting fact in connection with the 
above was the elevation of the Towliee’s nest 
from the ground. Several years ago, writers 
noted exceptions to the ground building habit of 
this bird, and quite recently a number of corres- 
pondents of the “O and O” have reported instances, 
as coming under their own observation, of its 
nesting in a bush or low sappling, some feet from 
the ground. And yet there are reputable writers 
who still persist in saying “the Towhee Bunting 
always builds its nest on the ground,” e. g., Dr. 
Abbott in his recently published “ Rambles of a 
Naturalist about Home,” page 141. One “ O. and 
O.” correspondent called attention to the interest- 
ing fact that every reported instance of this bird’s 
departure from its usual practice of nesting on the 
ground, as he believed, uniformly occurred during 
the latter half of the breeding season, which 
agrees with the case in question. His theory, 
however, in explanation, viz.: the Summer foliage 
contributed to form a bed for the nest, would 
hardly hold good in this case, my notes minutely 
describing the nest as “ attached to a bunch of 
four or five upright dead Blackberry stalks, par- 
tially shaded by taller Elderberry bushes.” 
%A/ /trtrO ewAptyhe 
7. Passerina cyanea. Indigo Bunting. On two 
occasions I have found the Cowbird’s egg in 
this bird’s nest. In neither case was the nest 
deserted. 
O.& O. XIV. Sept. 1689 p 133 
aF«w Neste Collected at Cornwall, V t. 
Spring-1880. O. H. Parkhill. 
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea). One 
nest of this species, which I found on May 30th, 
contained four eggs. The nest, which was 
situated in a low, swampy place, was hung to 
the tall brakes, and was a much more neatly 
constructed affair than the bird usually builds. 
It was not as bulky as their nests usually are, 
and was built more after the style of a Vireo. 
O .& O. XIV, Oct. 1889 p 150 
Nomenclature of North American 
Birds, Elliott Coues. 
199. Passerina cyanea (L.) Gray. The genus Cyanospiza , Bd., 1858, 
is given in Gray’s Hand-list, II, p. 97, as synonymous with Passerina , 
Vieill., 1816. This is correct. The type of Passerina, Vieill., as given 
in the Analyse, 1816, p. 30, is “ Le Ministre ” of Buffon. On turning 
to Buffon, Hist. Nat. Ois., 4to ed., Vol. IV, 1778, p. 86, we find “ Le 
Ministre ’ described by Montbrillard at second hand, the references being 
to Brisson and Catesby. Looking up Brisson, III, 1760, p. 13, we see 
that “ Le Ministre” is his “ Tangara bleu de la Caroline,” Tangara 
carolinensis ccerulea, also described at second hand, the reference being to 
Catesby. Finally, consulting Catesby, I, p. 45, pi. 45, we find that he 
describes and figures a “Blue Linnet,” which is the “Indigo Bird,” 
Cyanospiza cyanea , Bd. It is true that Vieillot Jater expanded his 
genus (in the Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat.) to cover a miscellaneous assort- 
ment of Fringillidw and Icleridce, but this does not affect his original 
establishment of the genus upon the Indigo Bird. It is also a fact that 
there is a prior Passerina in botany ; but this does not preclude its use in 
zoology. 
Bull, N.O.O, 6, April, 1880, p,90 
463. The Indigo Bird. By Charles Aldrich. Ibid. , XV, p. 394. — Not 
uncommon at Webster City, Iowa. AJDaeUP, ■£?•&> a 
48. The Indigo Finch. By C. W. Gedney. Ibid., VI, p. 159. Mainly 
relating to its life in aviaries and cages. 5*6i5SK, 3oi,&FaUO, jQUIa 
46S. Brief Notes on Some Iowa Birds. By Charles Aldrich. Ibid., 
XV, pp. 654-656. — On the Indigo Bird, Robin, and Blue JayAjoae?, Nairrraliat 
O.&O. X. Mar. 1885. p. VV- 
70 
