BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA . 
249 
tree blossoms. These birds, although, found in almost every locality, 
are most numerous in briery thickets, open woodland and in bushy 
places along fences and roadways. The nest, composed of leaves, dried 
grasses, etc , is built in low bushes. The eggs are four or five, bluish- 
white and unspotted; seldom are they pure white, and rarely do we find 
them spotted or thinly dotted with reddish-brown, but whatever may be 
their coloration, they measure a little less than three-fourths of an inch 
.long, and a trifle over one-half inch wide. The female with her plain 
brown dress, not unlike some members of the human race when attired 
in “ mother-hubbards ” and calico gowns, always shy and retiring— 
seems ever anxious to elude observation. The male, however, in his at¬ 
tractive and showy garb of iridescent blues, seemingly is conscious of 
his beauty, and appears eager to make his presence known. He perches 
on the tops of high bushes, on the dead twigs and limbs of tall trees, on 
the telegraph wires and fences, to sing his peculiarly vigorous and rapid 
song. The sharp tship of the female never, however, fails to quickly call 
to her side, this vain, noisy yet most devoted partner. Indigo-birds 
feed chiefly on different kinds of small seeds; during the breeding sea¬ 
son many insects are eaten. They subsist also to a small extent on apple 
and some few other blossoms; various kinds of small berries are not 
unpalatable to them. 
Genus SPIZA * Bonaparte. 
Spiza americana (Gmel.). 
Black-throated Bunting; Dickcissel. 
Description. 
This species varies considerably in its markings ; bill and feet grayish-black ; 
length about 6? inches ; extent about 11; female a little smaller ; upper p^rts ashy 
and brownish, the most conspicuous on middle of back, where and also on the scap¬ 
ulars there are black streaks ; top of head tinged with yellowish-green ; line over eye, 
streak from mandible, breast and middle of belly, and edge of wing yellow ; rest of 
lower parts white, except a black throat patch of variable size ; wing-coverts bright 
chestnut; female similar but duller, and black throat patch usually absent or indis- 
| tinct._ 
* Spiza townsendii (Aud.). 
Townsend’s Bunting. From Dr. Ezra Michener’s Birds of Chester county published in 1881, 1 take the 
1 following remarks relative to this species, but one specimen of which has ever been taken, and it is now 
1 in collection of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, D. C: “This unique bird was obtained by 
i my excellent friend, whose name it bears, in a cedar grove near my dwelling, while assisting me in col- 
I lecting birds in the spring of 1833. We at once pronounced it new. Audubon did the same, and named 
and published it in both of his large works. This curious bird has long been a puzzle to ornithologists 
in the uncertainty whether it is only a variety of S. americana (Black-throated Bunting) or a distinct 
species. Thus far (now more than forty years) but one specimen is known, kindly presented to the 
I Smithsonian Institution by Dr. Michener. 1 do not feel able to decide the question of its true relation- 
I ship to the S. americana. While this uncertainty remains it seems proper that Chester county should 
preserve a record of its history as a guide to future observers. ’’ 
Sp. Ch. — " Male. Upper parts, head and neck all round, sides of body and fore part of breast, slate 
I blue; the back and upper surface ot wings tinged with yellowish-brown; the inter-scapular region streaked 
I with black. A superciliary and maxillary line, chin and throat, and central line of under parts from the 
I breast to crissum, white; the edge of the wing, and a gloss on the breast and middle of belly, yellow. A 
I black spotted line from the lowei; corner of the ower mandible down the side of the throat, connecting 
with a crescent of streaks in the upper edge of the slate portion of the breast. Length 5| inches; alar ex- 
I tent 9; wing 2.80; tail 2.50 inches.”—S. F. Baird. 
