North American Birds Eggs. 



277 





602. Morellet Seed-eater. Sporophila morcUcti. 



Range.— Eastern ]\Iexico, 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 locali- 

 ties in southern Texas, they are not uncommon during the sum- 

 mer months. They build in bushes or young trees at low eleva- 

 tions making their nests of tine grasses or hbres, firmly woven 

 together and usually placed in an upright crotch. The eggs are 

 pale greenish blue, plentifully speckled with reddish and umber t'^reemsh blue.J 

 brown, and some markings (jf lilac. Size .()5 x .45. Data.— Brownsville, Texas, 

 May 7, 1892. Nest of tine fibre-like material lined with horse hairs, on limb of 

 small tree in open woods near a lake of fresh water; t! feet above ground. Col- 

 lector, Frank B. Armstrong. This set is in the collection of Mr. C. W, Crandall, 

 [603.] Grassquit. Tiaris blcolor. 



Range.— This small Finch is a Cuban species which casually strays to south- 

 ern PTorida. 



They are abundant on the island, building large arched nests of grass, with a 

 small entrance on the side. They lay from three to six white eggs, specked with 

 brown. Size .65 x .50. 



[603.1.] Melodious Grassquit. Tiaris ranora. 



Another Cuban Finch which has been taken in the Florida Keys, 

 the last. 



Eggs like 



604. Dickcissel; Black-throated Bunting. Sj)iza amcricana. 



Range. — Interior of the United States, breeding from the Gulf to northern 

 United States, west to the Rockies, east to the AUeghanies. 



QA 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 

 [Bluish white. 1 other birds are quiet. They nest anywhere, as suits their 

 fancy, on the ground, in clumps of grass, in clover fields, bushes, low trees, or 

 in thistles. The nests are made of weeds, grasses, leaves and rootlets, lined 

 with fine grass, and the three to five eggs are bluish white. Size .80 x .60. 



605. Lark Bunting, ('(ilainosjiiza nuianororys. 



Range. — A bird of the Plains, abundant from western Kansas to eastern Col- 

 orado 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 mannerof 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 grass or a low bush. 

 Their four or five eggs are like those of the last but slightly 

 larger. Size .85 x .65. Data. — Franklin Co., Kansas, 4eggs, 

 Nest in cornfield in a hollow on the ground at the base of a 

 stalk; made of straw and weetls. Collector, Victor Smith, 



TANAGERS. Family TANAGRID/E. 



[606,] Blue-headed Euphonia. Euplionin elajaiitii<sma. 

 Range. — Mexico, north casually? to southern Texas. 



This beautiful little Tanager is admitted to our avifauna on the authority- of 

 Giraud as having occurred in Texas. 



Bluish white.] 



