FINCHES 



73 



broadly tipped with wliite. the greater coverts more 

 narrowly tiiiped with the same, forming two bands ; 

 wings, otherwise blackish ; tail, blackish ; chest, tawny- 

 ochraceous ; abdomen, under tail-coverts, etc.. white; 

 iris brown. Adult Fem.^le: Above, grayish-brown 

 passing into dull greenish-blue, or much tinged with 

 this color, on rump and upper tail-coverts, the back 

 sometimes streaked with dusky ; wings and tail, dusky, 

 the feathers edged with dull greenish-blue; under parts, 

 dull buft'y. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest: Usually located near 

 water, in low willows, weeds, manzanitas, or other 

 brush; constructed of grass, leaves, strips of bark, 

 small twigs, and rootlets, lined with fine grasses and 

 hair. Eu;(,s: ji or 4, plain pale bluish or greenish white. 



Distribution. — Western United States and British 

 provinces; north to British Columbia, Idaho, Mon- 

 tana, etc.; south (in winter) to Mexico; cast nearly or 

 quite across the Great Plains to South Dakota, Kansas, 

 etc. 



" The Lazuli-painted Finch should be called 

 the Blue-headed Finch ; for the exquisite bluencss 

 of his whole head, including throat, breast, and 

 shoulders, as if he had been dipped so far intD 

 blue dye, is his most distinguishing feature. The 

 Bluebird wears heaven's color ; so does the Jay 

 and likewise the Indigo Bird; but not one can 

 boast the lovely and indescribable shade, with it^ 

 silvery reflections, that adorns the Lazuli. .Vcruss 

 the breast, under the blue, is a broad band of 

 chestnut, like the breast color of our Bluebird, 

 and back of that is white, while the wings and 

 tail are dark. Altogether he is charming to look 

 upon." Thtis Olive Thorne Miller describes the 

 Lazuli Bunting. 



The Lazulis are close relatives of the Painted 

 Bunting; but they are much more shy, except 

 in districts where they are numerous and then 

 they appear to believe that there is safety in 

 numbers. 



The Painted Bunting often comes about 

 country h(jmes in the east and sometimes he 

 will venture into a town if there are bushes 

 and trees convenient. The Lazulis love the 

 plains and the foot-hills ; they are seldom found 

 very high in the mountains. Their song is almost 



indistinguishable from that of tin 

 Warbler. 



Summer 



LAZULI BUi'V IING 

 Young being fed by their mother 



PAINTED BUNTING 

 Passerina ciris ( l..iiiii(rHs) 



A 11. I'. N'limlitT r.ni 



Painted Fincli ; Pope: Nonpareil; 



Other Names. 

 Mexican Canary. 



General Description. — Length. 6 inches. Male, 

 hlue. green, and reddish al)Ove. and red below ; female, 

 green above and yellowish below. Bill, small ; wings, 

 long and pointed ; tail, about ^4 length of wing, slightly 

 double rounded. 



Color. — .Adult M.\le: Head and neck, except 

 chin and throat, purplish-blue ; black and shoulders. 



bright yellowish-green ; rump and upper tail-coverts, 

 purplish-red; eye-ring (more or less complete) and 

 under parts, including throat, vermilion red ; greater 

 wing-coverts, parrot green ; middle coverts, dull reddish- 

 purple, lesser coverts, dull purplish-blue ; wings, dusky 

 edged with dull-purplish and .green ; tail-feathers, dull 

 dusky-reddish or purplish; upper jaw. blackish; iris, 

 brown. Adult Female: Above, plain dull green; 

 beneath, olive-vellowish, clearer vellow on abdomen and 



