EUSPIZA AMERICAXA, BLACK-THROATED BUNTING. 165 



Frinfiilla americana, Bp., Syn. 1828, 107. 



Calebs americana, Less., Tr. Orn. 1831, 440. 



Eiisplza americana, Bp., List, 1838, 32 : Cousp. i, 1850, 469. — Woodh., Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 

 87 (Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico).— Bd., B. N. A. 18.'8, 494.— Wheat., 

 Ohio Agric. Rep. 18f)0 (plentiful).— Lawr., Ann. Lye. vii, 1861, i^i (New 

 Granada).— CouES & Phent., Smiths. Rep. 1861, ('l862) 413 (Washington, 

 D. C., May to Sept., abundant). — Hayd., Rep. 1862, 168. — Aixen, Pr. Ess. 

 Inst, iv, 1864, 84 (Massachusetts, rare, or occasional). — Coues, Pr. Ess. Inst. 

 V, 1868, 284 (northeast to Massachusetts).— Lawh., Ann. Lye. vii, 1861, 298 

 (Panama); 186.5, 181 (Nicaragua); viii, 1868, 286 (New York); is, 1868, 103 

 (Costa Rica). — Coues, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii, 1863 (South Carolina in summer, ^f7c 

 Gihbes). — Ai.LEN, Mem. Bost. Soc. i, 1868, 505 (Western Iowa, very abundant, 

 breeding), and 517 (Northern Illinois, common). — Tuknb., B. E. Pa. 1869, 24 

 (May to Sept., plentiful.)— Duess., Ibis, 1865, 490 (Texas).— Salv., P. Z. S. 

 1867, 142 (Veragua).— Cass., Pr. Phila. Acad. 1860, 140 (Turbo).— Su.mich., 

 Mem. Bost. Soc. i, 1869, 532 (Vera Cruz, wiuteriug). — Scl. & Salv., Ibis, i, 

 1859, 18 (Gautemala).— Mavx., Guide, 1870, 120 (Massachusetts, three instan- 

 ces noted). — Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 177 (Kansas and Colorado). — 

 Trippe, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872, 238 (Iowa, breeding).— Coues, Kev, 1872, 148.— 

 Snow, B. Kans. 1873, 7.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 65, pi. 28, f. 11, 12. 



Euspina americana, Cab., Mus. Hein. i, 1851, 133. 



Frinf/iUa flavicoUis, Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 926. 



Friiif/illa mcxicana, MOlleh, Syst. Nat. Suppl. 165. 



Emleriza mexicana, Gm., S. Nat. i, 1788, 873.— Lath., Ind. Orn. i, 1790, 412. (P. E. 386, 1.) 



Passerina nigricollis, Vielll., Enc. Meth. 931. 



Hab. — United States, west to Kansas and Nebraska, and even Colorado. North to 

 Connecticutregularly(LiNSL., Am. Jouru. Sci. 1843, 261), to Massachusetts occasionally ; 

 no record beyond. No record of wintering in the United Statcss. Winters in Mexico 

 and Central America, and New Granada (numerous quotations). 



LicHienant Warren's /i>j;«Z(7/o«.— 5381, 9288, Fort Lookout ; 9261. 9265, 9258, 9263, 

 9260, 9254, 9248, 9270, 9269, Loup Fork of the PJatte; 9256, 9262, 9264, 9249, ElkLoru 

 River ; 9257, Fremont, on Platte. 



Not obtained by Captain Raynolds' Expedition, or by the later ones. 



From its wiuter abode iu tropical America, the Black-tliroated Bunt- 

 ing enters the United States iu April, in small troops. Vast numbers 

 pass up the Mississippi Valley, some finding' their final resting place in 

 Iowa, but others lingering to breed all along the route. Many spread, 

 westward over the i)rairies of Kansas and Nebraska, and a part of the 

 host reaches the Middle Atlantic States by the latter part of the month, 

 some even penetrating eastward to Southern New England, which 

 forms their terminus. Rearing their young in nearly all parts of this 

 great extent of land, from Texas to Nebraska, and New England, they 

 depart before the approach of cold weather to their homes far south. 



Making no claim to the brilliancy of coloration that many of its 

 spizine allies possess, this Bunting is nevertheless a handsome bird, 

 with tasteful color contrasts, a trim form, and a peculiarly smooth, neat 

 plumage. As a vocalist, however, we must rate it a very humble per- 

 former ; its song is short and simple, even weak, and grows monotonous 

 with repetition through the season of incubation, when the male, from 

 the highest perch he can find near his nest, cheers his faithful mate 

 with the assurance of his presence and jjrotection. lie seems to say, 

 " Look ! look ! see me here ! see !" And if we do not like his perform- 

 ance, we may remember we are not asked to listen. 



The nest of this species is alni'-st invariably placed on the ground, 

 but occasionally in a thick grass-cluuip, over a foot high. The eggs are 

 four or five in number, of precisely the same pale blue shade as in the 

 last species, being thus exactly like Bluebird vii^ix^^. They are .said to 

 be sometimes dotted, and 1 have no doubt such is the (;a.si', though 1 

 have seen none not perfectly plain. The si/e is 0.80 by 0.G5. 



As was remarked by Audubon, the Black-throated nuiiting appears 

 to avoid certain districts, both in its migrations and tor l)reeding, giv- 

 ing preference to fertile portions of the country, and in settling ilown to 



