FRLNGILLID.E — THE FINCIIKS — CYAXOSPIZA. 233 



Cyanospiza amoena, Say. 



THE BLUE LINNET. 



Emheriza amirnn, Sat, Long's Expcd. II. \8->n, 47. — FrimjiUn (Spiza) amann, BoN.\r.\KTE, 

 Am. Orn. I. 1823, fil ; pi. vi. f. 5. — FniKjilla amana, Auduuon, Oni. Biog. V. 1839 

 64, 230 ; pl.s. 398 and 429. — Ndttall, Man. I. 2d ed. .546. — Spha amrrna, Bona- 

 parte, List, 1838. — Audubon, Synopsis, 1839, 109. In. Birds Amcr. III. 1841, 100; 

 pi. 171. — Heermann, p. R. Ruj). X. vi. 46. — Cijamspiza amana, Baird, P. R. Rep. 

 IX. Birds, 504. — Cooper and Sdcki.ev, XII. iii. ZudI. of W. T. 20."). 



Sr. Cii.\n. Male. Upper parts generally, with the head and neck all round, nreenish- 

 bliie ; the interscapular region darker. Upper part of breast pale brownish-chestnut, 

 separated from the blue of the throat by a faint white crescent ; rest of under parts white. 

 A white patch on the middle wing coverts, and an obscurely indicated wliitc band across 



Female. 



the ends of the greater coverts. Loral region black. Length alinut .5.50 ; wing, 3.00 ; 

 tail, 2.60. Iris brown ; bill black, bluish Ijclow ; feet black. 



Female. Brown above ; whitish beneath, with a trace of a buff jiectoral band. 



Hah. High Central Plains to the Pacific. 



This is an alnuidaut species throughout California, and north to Pnget's 

 Sound in summer, arriving at San Diego ahout April 22d, and remaining 

 until October. One which I saw kept in a cage during winter retained its 

 blue plumage, iinlike the wild birds which are believed to change to the 

 plain hues of the female in autunni. It is frequently kept in cages, 

 and dealers, noticing its similarity of haljits and song to the Eastern in- 

 digo-bird (6'. cyanca), have absurdly given it tliat name, though it lias not a 

 particle of indigo in its colors. Perhaps they tliinlc it merely a faded and 

 degenerate variety of that bird, just as Piuffonian naturalists considered all 

 American animals degenerate forms of those of Europe. Unfortunately, its 

 name of lazuli finch is scarcely better iinderstood than tliat of mncena, the 

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