10 
Quiscnlus qniscula. Purple Grackle.— Abundant during migration but be¬ 
comes scarce as the season advances. A few pairs remain to breed and are found 
in the same localities as the subspecies Q. q. aeneus. 
Quisculns quiscnla aeneus. Bronzed Grackle. Abundant, nesting com¬ 
monly in the elms, pines, maples and the giant sycamores along the streams, and 
in the orchards on higher ground. Clumps of locust trees in the vicinity of water 
is also a favorite site. 
Eggs four to six; live is the number most commonly met with. As early as April 
25th. I have found nests containing slightly incubated eggs, and fresh eggs were 
found as late as May 15th. 
About the middle of July, small companies are seen collecting in certain locali¬ 
ties. As the season advances their numbers increase until flocks of hundreds, and even 
thousands, pack the roosts. One of these roosts exists along the creek on a farm ad¬ 
joining Waynesburg on the southwest. Here, I have seen immense flocks of Black¬ 
birds settle on the ripening corn, whose rustle, from the sudden contact, sounded 
like prolonged puff's of escaping steam. 
The Blackbirds do but little damage to crops, in this locality, consequently they 
escape persecution. 
Spinas tristis. American Goldfinch. —Abundant, and a resident throughout 
the year, nesting in the orchards, along edges of woods and in the isolated walnuts 
and other trees in the field, in July and August. 
The nest is usually placed in trees, at heights ranging from ten to thirty feet 
above the ground. However, there are exceptions, as I have found an occasional 
nest above thirty feet, and one nest (August 1st., 1891), containing six slightly in¬ 
cubated eggs, was placed in a brier only five feet above the ground. 
Most of the nests examined contained five eggs, a few only four, and one six. 
Poocaetes gramineus. Vesper Sparrow.— Common in the upland pastures, 
placing their nests near base of a weed or bunch of grass. 
Eggs three to five, the latter number being seldom met with. 
It seems that more than one brood is raised during the season, as I have found 
eggs variously incubated, from May second to the first of August. 
Ammodramus savannarnm passerinus. Grasshopper Sparrow.—S o far, I 
have found this bird to be rare. Two nests were found on the ground in pastures 
on hillsides. One contained five, the other three eggs. 
Chondestes grammacus. Lark Sparrow.— Rare. My brother brought in a 
set of five fresh eggs which he took from a nest in a small bush. 
Spizella socialis. Chipping Sparrow. -Abundant, nesting everywhere except in 
the more heavily wooded tracts. A common bird in the town, nesting in the shade 
and other ornamental trees. Height to nest ranges below thirty-five feet. One was 
placed on the ground. However, this is an exception, as it is the only one found 
placed less than fifteen inches above the ground. 
Eggs three and four. Two broods are reared, the first eggs being laid by May 
15th. 
Spizella pnsilla. Field Sparrow.—A bundant in grassy fields overgrown with 
briers and bushes so often met with on the hillsides. 
Nests placed in tuft of grass or a few inches above the ground in brier or bush. 
Eggs commonly three or four, rarely five. Nidification begins about the tenth of 
May. Two broods are raised; the second being hatched by August15th. 
Passer domesticns. English Sparrow. —Abundant in town and are becoming 
so about farm houses in the country. 
Four, five and six eggs are laid. Nests about buildings in town and trees and 
deserted nests of the Woodpecker in the country. In some of the shade trees in 
town I have observed the large globular nest of this bird. 
