FINCHES 



65 



The Pyrrhuloxia belongs to the Cardinal group 

 of Finches. Their habits are those of the Cardi- 

 nal, but the area in which they are found is but 

 a small part of the country in which the true 

 Cardinals live. The I'yrrliuloxia country is con- 

 linecl to the hot upland areas uf the northern 

 jjlateau of Mexico, and the adjacent parts of 

 Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. 



Some suppose the Pvrrhuloxia to be more 

 " shy and suspicious " than the Cardinal. Rut 

 the experience of William L. and Irene Finlcy 

 in photographing a Pyrrhuloxia on the nest, as 

 reported in Bird-Lore, is rather the reverse, 

 showing that the bird has about the same confi- 

 dence in human surroundings as has the Cardi- 

 nal. The Cardinal traits have been so noticeable 

 that the bird has often been known as the Gray 

 Cardinal. The differences are also conspicuous. 

 Instead of the cue note of the Cardinal, the 

 mesquite is musical with his clear, cheerful 

 whistling. 



The red crest is the most characteristic feature 

 of the Pyrrhuloxia. Every change of mood in 

 the bird is not only shown but exaggerated by the 

 quick up and- down motions of the crest feathers. 

 I'rom listlessness to alertness, and from curiosity 

 to ennui are the changes of a second. These 

 changes are rapid and occur many scores of 

 times every hour. 



The eastern variety is called the Texas Pyr- 

 rhuloxia (Pyrrhuloxia sinnata tcxana) and has 

 the ring around the bill conspicuously marked 

 with black. From El Paso west into southern 

 Arizona the variety is known as the Arizona 

 Pyrrhuloxia. It is a very fancy name, but it 

 will remain, for it is a very fancy bird. 



Like the Blue Grosbeak the Arizona Pvrrhu- 

 loxia is more fond of caterpillars and grass- 

 hoppers than of other insects. Weevils are next 



in order of ])reference. The Parrot-bill ranges 

 over much of the cotton belt of Texas and feeds 

 u|)on two im])ortant cotton pests, one of which — 

 the boll weevil — is one of our most destructive 



Drawing by R. I. Brasher 



PYRRHULOXIA ( ; nat. size) 

 A fine whistler, with a red waistcoat and a very dandified air 



insects. Cotton worms are highly relished, as 

 many as eighteen having been found in a single 

 stomach. In August and September seven-tenths 

 of the Gray Grosbeak's food is weed seed, five- 

 tenths consisting exclusively of the seeds of two 

 of the most imjjortant weeds of the South, 

 namely, fo.xtail and burr grass. So far as known, 

 the Gray Grosbeak eats practically no beneficial 

 insect and damages no crop. This, in addition 

 to the fact that it feeds upon noxious weed and 

 insect pests, entitles it to complete protection. 



ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK 

 Zamelodia ludoviciana ( Liniucits) 



A. O. U, Number S5 



Other Names.— Potato-bug Bird : Common Gros- 

 beak : Summer Grosbeak ; Rose-breast. 



General Description. — Length. 814 inches. Fore 

 and upper parts, black or blackish-brown ; under parts, 

 red and white. Bill, heavy and short ; wings, long and 

 pointed; tail, more than % length of wing, even or 

 sbghtly rounded, the feathers broad anrl rounded at 

 the ends. 



Color. — Adult M.m.k in Summer: Head, neck, back, 



See Color Plate 85 



and shoulders, uniform black; wings, black relieved by 

 a large patch of white on basal portion of primaries, 

 white spots at tips of innermost greater coverts and 

 inner wing-quills, and a broad white band coinposed of 

 the middle coverts ; upper tail-coverts, black with large 

 terminal spots of white; tail, black with inner webs of 

 three outermost tail-feathers white at the ends; chest, 

 center portion of breast, and under zcing-coTerts. rose 

 red or lii]ht carmine; rest of under parts of body. 



