Part 22

Nest.—Shabby platforms of twigs and grasses placed at low elevations in thickets. The three or four eggs are whitish, specked with dark brown, most profusely at the large end (.90 × .70).

Range.—Abundant in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK 595. Zamelodia ludoviciana. 8 inches

Male, black and white with rose breast and under wing coverts; female resembling a large striped Sparrow in color.

The centre of abundance of these beautiful creatures is in the northern half of eastern U. S. In beauty and song he fully atones for what we Northerners lose because of the southerly distribution of the Cardinal. We find them in swamps, small patches of woods, and, sometimes, in orchards. They are rather quiet birds, that is they do not move about much, but they can easily be found by their song.

Song.—A rich, full, whistling carol, almost without exception immediately preceded with a sharp chip. Call, a deep-toned chirp.

Nest.—A loose, frail cradle of twigs at low elevations in trees or thickets; eggs bluish green spotted with brown (1.00 × .75).

Range.—U. S. east of the Rockies, breeding in the northern half and in southern Canada; winters in Central America.

BLUE GROSBEAK 597. Guiraca cærulea. 7 inches

Male, deep blue with chestnut shoulders; female, grayish brown above and grayish white below.

Open woods, small groves, and roadsides are the locations in which these birds will be apt to be found. In some places they are fairly common, but nowhere abundant. Their habits are very similar to those of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Song.—A rapid varied warble, similar to but louder and stronger than that of the Indigo Bunting.

Nest.—Of twigs, weeds, and grasses, lined with fine rootlets; placed in thickets, bushes, or low trees; four or five plain bluish-white eggs (.85 × .62).

Range.—Eastern U. S., breeding from the Gulf to Maryland and Illinois; winters south of U. S.

Sub-Species.—597a. Western Blue Grosbeak (lazula). Male of a brighter shade of blue than the eastern; found from the Mississippi to the Pacific, breeding north to Kansas, Colorado, and northern California.

INDIGO BUNTING 598. Passerina cyanea. 5½ inches

Male, indigo blue; female, brownish but usually with a faint indication of blue on the wings or tail.

A jolly summer songster, dwelling with us from the latter part of May until September. You will meet with these Buntings along roadsides lined with scrubby trees or bushes, or in pastures or along the edges of swamps. The male usually has some favorite perch upon which he spends a large portion of his time singing; it is nearly always the top of a tall bush or tree.

Song.—A sprightly little warble with many canary-like notes. Call, a sharp chip.

Nest.—Of grasses at low elevations in shrubs or bushes; eggs four or five in number, very pale bluish white (.75 × .52).

Range.—U. S. east of the Rockies, and most abundant east of the Mississippi; breeds north to Manitoba and New Brunswick; winters in Central America.

LAZULI BUNTING 599. Passerina amœna. 5½ inches

This species replaces the preceding one west of the Plains. While the plumage of the males is entirely distinctive, that of the females is often confusing. The present species has quite a conspicuous band of rusty buff across the breast and lacks any sign of stripes on the sides, such as show faintly on the last species. Its habits are just like those of the Indigo and it frequents the same kind of territory.

Nest.—Built in a bush or on the lower branches of trees, only a few feet from the ground. The eggs are very pale bluish white (.75 × .58).

Range.—Western United States from the Great Plains to the Pacific coast; north along the coast to British Columbia; south in winter to Mexico.

VARIED BUNTING 600. Passerina versicolor. 5½ inches

This beautiful species is less common than any others of the genus and has a very restricted range in the United States. The plumage of the male birds varies a great deal; that shown in the accompanying illustration is from a brightly colored specimen. They will average duller than this. These birds frequent thickets or brush-studded pasture land. Their song is described as weaker than that of the Indigo Bunting, but having much of the same character.

Nest.—Built of grasses, bark and fine rootlets; a cup-shaped structure placed in forks of bushes, usually in tangled thickets. The three or four eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the last species.