2i6 VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



The Black-headed Grosbeak, G. melanocepJiala, Sw., of 

 Western North America, is eight inches long, the wing 

 four and a quarter inches. 



The Blue Grosbeak, G. ccernlca, Sw., of the Southern 

 United States, is seven and a quarter inches long, the 

 wing three and a half inches, and at once distinguished 

 by its brilliant blue color. 



The Genus Cyanospiza has the upper outline of the 

 bill considerably curved, wings long and pointed, tail 

 rather narrow and nearly even, and the tarsus about 

 equal to the middle toe. The species are all small and 

 of very showy plumage. 



The Blue Bunting, C. pardlina, Baird, of the Rio 

 Grande region, is five inches long, the wing two and 

 a half inches, general color dark blue. 



The Varied Bunting, C. vcrsicolor, Baird, of Northeast- 

 ern Mexico, is five and a half inches long, the wing two 

 and three quarters inches ; the colors reddish, blue, and 

 black. 



The Painted Bunting, or Nonpareil, C. ciris, Baird, of 

 the Southern States, is five and a half inches long, the 

 wing two and seven tenths inches ; the head and neck 

 ultramarine blue ; a stripe from the chin to the breast, the 

 under parts generally, and the rump, vermilion. The 

 edges of the chin, loral region, greater wing-coverts, and 

 interscapular region are green ; and the tail, lower wing- 

 coverts, and outer webs of quills, purplish blue. The 

 female is dark green above, yellow below. 



The Lazuli Finch, C. amccna, Baird, of the Central 

 Plains to the Pacific, is five and a half inches long, the 

 wing nearly four inches ; the upper parts greenish blue, 

 the upper part of the breast pale brownish-chestnut, the 

 remaining under parts, except the blue throat, white. 



The Indigo Bird, C. cyanca, Baird, of the United States 

 east of the Missouri, is five and three quarters inches long, 



