i64 THE LAZULI BUNTING. 



of the underworld, not, of course, in the Mephistopliehan sense, but as the 

 undoubted aristocrat among those humble folk who skulk under dark ferns, 

 thread marvelous mazes of interlacing sticks and stalks, explore cavernous 

 recesses of moss-covered roots, and understand the foundations of things 

 generally. 



The handsome bird is a little impatient of the company of his own kintl, 

 his faithful spouse always excepted: but he quite appreciates the mild defer- 

 ence of Rusty Song Sparrows, the bustling sociability of \Vestern Winter 

 Wrens, or even the intermittent homage of Seattle Wrens. In winter the 

 Fox Sparrows attach themselves to this humble itinerant coiui, hut they are 

 a dozen times more bashful than their chief even. 



Onlv at mating time does Towhee throw caution to the winds. Tlien 

 he mounts a sapling and drones away by the hour. The damps of ten thou- 

 sand winters have reduced his song to a pitiful wdieeze, but he holds forth 

 as bravely as an\- of his kin, ivlieeeee zvhceeee, and again, ivheeeee. In winter 

 the birds emplov a peculiar iiissing sound, pssst or hzzzt, not I believe, as a 

 warning — rather as a keep-in-touch call. It was rather heartening tho to 

 hear the full song of Towhee on the 29th of December at Blaine. Compari- 

 sons were unnecessary, and the homel\- trill stood out like a benediction 

 against the dripping silence. 



In feeding, Towhees resort chiefly to the ground. They are not careful 

 to observe quiet, and one may follow their movements by the attendant rus- 

 tling of leaves. Scratching for food is a favorite employment, and this they 

 pursue not bv the methodical clutch and scrape of the old hen, but by a suc- 

 cession of spirited backward kicks executed by both feet at once, and assisted 

 by the wings. Bv this method, not only fallen seeds are laid bare but lurking 

 insects of manv sorts, whicli tlie bird swiftlv devours. 



No. 67. 



LAZULI BUNTING. 



A. O. U. No. 599. Passerina amoena (Say). 



Synonyms. — L.^zuLi Finch. 



Description. — Adult male: Head and neck all around cerulean blue; this 

 color carried over upperparts hut pure only on rump, elsewhere appearing as 

 skirting of feathers ; middle coverts broadly and greater coverts narrowly tipped 

 with white ; wings and tail otherwise black ; some skirting of ochraceous on back, 

 scapulars and tertials ; lores black ; chest ochraceous sharply defined from blue 

 above but shading gradually into white of remaining underparts ; sides and flanks 

 with outcropping bluish dusky. Bill black above, pale bluish below : feet brownish 

 dusky; iris brown. Adult female: Above grayish brown, the color of male 



