rom the Middle
States and Ohio north to Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

This beautiful black and white bird with rosy red breast and under wing
coverts, is one of the most pleasing of our songsters. They nest either
in bushes or trees, generally between six and twenty feet from the
ground and usually in thick clumps of trees or scrubby apple trees. The
three or four eggs, which are laid in June, are greenish blue, spotted,
most heavily about the larger end, with reddish brown. Size 1.00 x .75.
Data.--Worcester, Mass., June 5, 1899. Nest of twigs and rootlets in
small apple tree in woods; nest very frail, eggs showing through the
bottom.

596. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. _Zamelodia melanocephala._

Range.--United States, west of the Plains, breeding from Mexico north to
British Columbia; winters south of the United States.

This species is of the size of the last (8 inches long), and is a bright
cinnamon brown color with black head, and black and white wings and
tail. The habits of this bird are the same as those of the Rose-breasted
Grosbeak and its song is very similar but more lengthy. Their nests,
like those of the last, are very flimsy structures placed in bushes or
trees, usually below twenty feet from the ground; they are open
frameworks of twigs, rootlets and weed stalks, through which the eggs
can be plainly seen. The eggs are similar to those of the preceding but
are usually of a paler color, the markings, therefore showing with
greater distinctness. Size 1.00 x .70.

[Illustration 367: Greenish blue.]
[Illustration: Rose-breasted Grosbeak.]
[Illustration: Pale greenish white.]
[Illustration: J. B. Pardoe. NEST OF ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 366

597. BLUE GROSBEAK. _Guiraca caerulea._

Range.--Southeastern United States, breeding from the Gulf north to
Pennsylvania and Illinois, and casually to New England.

Smaller than the last two species and deep blue, with wings and tail
blackish, and the lesser coverts and tips of greater, chestnut. It is a
fairly common species in the southerly parts of its range, nesting most
frequently in low bushes or vines in thickets; the nest is made of
rootlets, weed stalks and grasses and sometimes leaves. The three or
four eggs are bluish white, unmarked. Size .85 x .65. Data.--Chatham
Co., Ga., June 10, 1898. 3 eggs. Nest of roots, leaves and snake skin,
lined with fine rootlets, 3 feet from the ground in a small oak bush.

597a. W