146 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 tart i 



unusual throughout the summer. The males fly at each other and 

 peck savagely, buffeting with their wings and niLxing up in a tight 

 tangle. The birds are so engrossed that one can sometimes pick them 

 up in one's hands. They appear completely oblivious to everything 

 else in the fervor of the fight. Eyes are sometimes put out, heads 

 streaming with blood and denuded of feathers are commonplace. 

 Occasionally one or another dies. 



I have experimented with a mounted bird lure placed near a non- 

 pareil's territory. The mounted bird was soon set upon with great en- 

 ergy and reduced to a wreck in a few minutes. Curiously enough, this 

 outstanding characteristic of the bird is made little of — and frequently 

 omitted — by many writers. Wayne (1910) describes it well as 

 follows: "As soon as the females arrive mating begins and battles 

 take place daily between the males, which are always extremely 

 pugnacious. In an adult male taken June 24th, 1891, nearly every 

 feather on the top of the head was missing, undoubtedly lost in these 

 encounters. * * * On many occasions I have seen males engaged 

 in combat which did not cease until one was killed. I have repeatedly 

 caught them while fighting, and a male which I examined shortly 

 after a fight had both eyes completely closed." 



The nonpareil dehghts in baths and is a frequent visitor to basins 

 and fountains. At times I have had the bird disport in the spray of 

 my garden hose, and the effect has been beautiful. The dashing 

 movements and glowing colors amid a rainbow of spray makes them 

 seem like detached bits of prismatic brilliance. 



As might be supposed, the nonpareil is not easily intimidated by 

 other birds, even larger ones. Miss Bates (MS.) has interesting 

 comments along this line: "The Nonpareil is the only bird at the 

 feeding station not afraid of the aggressive Mourning Dove. If 

 chased from the tray hj this furious 'bird of peace,' he will immediately 

 fly back to the tray behind the dove and continue to feed. Some- 

 times there are three or four Nonpareils on the tray with a dove, 

 but always behind him! They feed with Cardinals, White-eyed Tow- 

 hees, Catbirds and Ground Doves and are unafraid of the larger birds. 

 On the ground * * * they eat side by side with rabbits and squirrels." 



The nonpareil is a true finch in its habitat preferences and in all 

 its actions. It is an open country bird, although it resorts to dense 

 cover at times. Scattered treees, field edges, grassy situations, 

 hedgerows and shrubbery along roadsides, trailing vines and the 

 like, are favored haunts. Its actions are distinctly sparrowlike; 

 it feeds a good deal on the ground or on bending grass stalks, and 

 prefers low cover most of the time. 



Voice. — It seems to me that the literature has been cavalier in 

 its treatment of the nonpareil's song, which is said to be weak and 



