The Bird Book Part 85

598. INDIGO BUNTING. _Pa.s.serina cyanea._

Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding north to Manitoba and Nova Scotia; winters south of the United States.

This handsome species is rich indigo on the head and neck, shading into blue or greenish blue on the upper and under parts. They are very abundant in some localities along roadsides, in thickets and open woods, where their song is frequently heard, it being a very sweet refrain resembling, somewhat, certain pa.s.sages from that of the Goldfinch. They nest at low elevations in thickets or vines, building their home of gra.s.s and weeds, lined with fine gra.s.s or hair, it being quite a substantial structure. The eggs, which are laid in June or July, are pale bluish white. Size .75 .52.

599. LAZULI BUNTING. _Pa.s.serina amna._

Range.--Western United States, breeding from Mexico to northern United States and the interior of British Columbia; east to Kansas.

This handsome bird is of the size of _cyanea_, but is azure blue above and on the throat, the

[Ill.u.s.tration 368: Blue Grosbeak.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pale bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Indigo Bunting.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 367

breast being brownish and the rest of the underparts, white. It is the western representative of the Indigo Bunting, and its habits and nesting habits are in all respects the same as those of that species, the nests being made of twigs, gra.s.ses, strips of bark, weeds, leaves, etc. The eggs are like those of the last, pale bluish white. Size .75 .55.

600. VARIED BUNTING. _Pa.s.serina versicolor_.

Range.--Mexico and north to southern Texas.

The general color of this odd bird is purplish, changing to bright blue on the crown and rump, and with a reddish nape. They are quite abundant in some localities along the Lower Rio Grande, where they nest in bushes and tangled under brush, the nests being like those of the last species, and rarely above five feet from the ground. The eggs are pale bluish white, three or four in number, and laid during May or June. Size .75 .55.

600a. BEAUTIFUL BUNTING. _Pa.s.serina versicolor pulchra._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

Slightly smaller but very similar to the last; eggs will not differ.

601. PAINTED BUNTING. _Pa.s.serina ciris._

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States; north to Illinois in the interior.

Without exception, this is the most gaudily attired of North American birds, the whole underparts being red, the head and neck deep blue, the back yellowish green, and the rump purple, the line of demarcation between the colors being sharp. They are frequently kept as cage birds but more for their bright colors than any musical ability, their song being of the character of the Indigo Bunting, but weaker and less musical. They are very abundant in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, where they nest usually in bushes or hedges at low elevations, but occasionally on branches of tall trees. Their nests are made of weeds, shreds of bark, gra.s.ses, etc., lined with fine gra.s.s, very much resembling that of the Indigo. Their eggs are laid in May, June or July, they frequently raising two broods; they are white or pale bluish white, speckled with reddish brown. Size .75 .55.

[Ill.u.s.tration 369: Pale bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lazuli Bunting.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pale bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Varied Bunting.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 368

602. SHARPE'S SEED-EATER. _Sporophila morelleti morelleti_.

Range.--Eastern Mexico, breeding north to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

This peculiar, diminutive Finch is but 4.5 inches in length, and in plumage is black, white and gray. In restricted localities in southern Texas, they are not uncommon during the summer months. They build in bushes or young trees at low elevations making their nests of fine gra.s.ses or fibres, firmly woven together and usually placed in an upright crotch. The eggs are pale greenish blue, plentifully speckled with reddish and umber brown, and some markings of lilac. Size .65 .45. Data.--Brownsville, Texas, May 7, 1892. Nest of fine fibre-like material lined with horse hairs, on limb of small tree in open woods near a lake of fresh water; 6 feet above ground. Collector, Frank B.

Armstrong. This set is in the collection of Mr. C. W. Crandall.

603. GRa.s.sQUIT. _Tiaris bicolor._

Range.--This small Finch is a Cuban species which casually strays to southern Florida.

They are abundant on the island, building large arched nests of gra.s.s, with a small entrance on the side. They lay from three to six white eggs, specked with brown. Size .65 .50.

603.1 MELODIOUS GRa.s.sQUIT. _Tiaris canora._

Another Cuban Finch which has been taken in the Florida Keys. Eggs like the last.

604. d.i.c.kCISSEL. _Spiza americana._

Range.--Interior of the United States, breeding from the Gulf to northern United States, west to the Rockies, east to the Alleghanies.

A sparrow-like Bunting with a yellow breast patch, line over eye and on side of throat; throat black, chin white and wing coverts chestnut.

These sleek-coated, harmoniously colored birds are very common in dry bush-grown pastures and on the prairies. They are very persistent singers, and their song, while very simple, is welcome on hot days when other birds are quiet. They nest anywhere, as suits their fancy, on the ground, in clumps of gra.s.s, in clover fields, bushes, low trees, or in thistles. The nests are made of weeds, gra.s.ses, leaves and rootlets, lined with fine gra.s.s, and the three to five eggs are bluish white. Size .80 .60.

[Ill.u.s.tration 370: Painted Bunting.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish blue.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sharpe's Seed-eater.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 369

605. LARK BUNTING. _Calamospiza melanocorys._.

Range.--A bird of the Plains, abundant from western Kansas to eastern Colorado and north to the Canadian border; winters in Mexico.

These black and white birds have a sweet song which they often utter while on the wing after the manner of the Bobolink, all their habits being similar to those of this bird, except that this species likes the broad dry prairies where it nests on the ground under the protection of a tuft of gra.s.s or a low bush. Their four or five eggs are like those of the last but slightly larger. Size .85 .65. Data.--Franklin Co., Kansas. 4 eggs. Nest in cornfield in a hollow on the ground at the base of a stalk; made of straw and weeds.

TANAGERS. Family TANAGRIDae

607. WESTERN TANAGER. _Piranga ludoviciana._