PAINTED BUNTING. 



87 



secondaries, as well as their coverts, and shoulder of the wing, pure 

 white ; the first six primaries are black from their coverts downwards to 

 their extremities ; tail forked, the three ^exterior feathers, on each side, 

 white, marked on the outer edge, near the tip, with black ; the rest 

 nearly all black ; tail coverts reddish brown, fading into white ; bill 

 pale brown ; legs and feet black ; hind claw long like that of the Lark, 

 though more curved. In winter they become white on the head, neck 

 and whole under side, as well as great part of the wings and rump, the 

 back continues black skirted with brown. Some are even found pure 

 white. Indeed so much does their plumage vary according to age and 

 season, that no two are found at any time alike. 



Species VI. EMBERIZA CIRIS. 



PAINTED BUNTING. 



[Plate XXIV. Fig. 1, Male— Fig. 2, Female.] 



Linn. Syst. 313. — Painted Finch, Catesby, i., 44. — Edw. 130, 173. — Arct. Zool. p. 

 362, No. 226. — Le Yerdier de la Louisiane, dit vidgairement le Pape, Brisson, hi., 

 200, App. 74. — BuFFON, iv., 76, PI. Enl. 159. — Lath, ii., 206. — Linaria ciris, 

 the Painted Finch, or Nonpareil, Bartram, p. 291. 



This is one of the most numerous of the little summer birds of Lower 

 Louisiana, where it is universally known among the French inhabitants, 

 and called by them "ie Pape,'' and by the Americans the Nonpareil. 

 Its gay dress and docility of manners have procured it many admirers ; 

 for these qualities are strongly attractive, and carry their own recom- 

 mendations always along with them. The low countries of the Southern 

 States, in the vicinity of the sea, and along the borders of our large 

 rivers, particularly among the rice plantations, are the favorite haunts 

 of this elegant little bird. A few are seen in North Carolina ; in South 

 Carolina they are more numerous ; and still more so in the lower parts 

 of Georgia. To the westward I first met them at Natchez, on the Mis- 

 sissippi, where they seemed rather scarce. Below Baton Rouge, along 

 the levee, or embankment of the river, they appeared in greater num- 

 bers ; and continued to become more common as I approached New 

 Orleans, where they were warbling from almost every fence, and cross- 

 ing the road before me every few minutes. Their notes very much 

 resemble those of the Indigo Bird (Plate VI., fig. 6) ; but want the 

 strength and energy of the latter, being more feeble and more concise. 

 I found these birds very commonly domesticated in the houses of the 

 French inhabitants of New Orleans ; appearing to be the most common 



