190 LAZULI FINCH. 



the name of Spiza. As a species, it is more intimately allied to Frin- 

 gilla ciris and cyanea* which I stated in that paper to differ so much from 

 their congeners, particularly in the greater curvature of the upper mandi- 

 ble, as to deserve, perhaps, a separation into a small sub-genus by them- 

 selves : this would unite Fringilla to Tanagra, as Spiza, on the other 

 hand, shows its transition to Emberiza. 



The Lazuli Finch is five inches and three-quarters long. The bill is 

 formed like that of the Indigo-bird [Friugilla cyanea, Wils.), but is 

 emarginated near the tip, being horn color, as well as the feet ; the 

 irides are dark brown. The whole head and neck are brilliant verdi- 

 grise-blue ; the back is brownish-black, intermixed with blue, and a 

 little ferruginous-brown ; the rump is pure verdigrise-blue : the superior 

 portion of the breast is pale ferruginous ; the lower part of the breast, 

 the belly, and inferior tail coverts, are white. The smaller Aving coverts 

 are blue ; the middling coverts are blackish at base, and broadly tipped 

 with white, forming a wide band across the wing ; the greater wing 

 coverts are blackish, obscurely margined with blue, and slightly tipped 

 with white on the exterior web, constituting a second band across the 

 wings parallel to the first, but much narrower ; the primaries and se- 

 condaries are blackish, obscurely margined with blue on the outer web ; 

 the under wing coverts are whitish, a little intermixed with blue. . The 

 tail is slightly emarginated, the feathers being blackish, edged with blue 

 on the outer web, and with white on the inner web at tip. 



The above description of this handsome bird is taken from a male in 

 summer plumage, the only specimen brought by Long's exploring party ; 

 hence we are unable to give any positive information relative to the 

 female and young, though from analogy we must believe them in great 

 part destitute of the blue color, and otherwise less brilliantly adorned. 



This species appears to be rather rare ; it is found along the Arkan- 

 sas river, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, during the summer 

 months ; they frequent the bushy valleys, keeping much in the grass, 

 and seldom alight on shrubs or trees. In this respect, also, they resem- 

 ble the Indigo-bird, and probably their habits are the same, although 

 the note is entirely dissimilar. 



* Its relation to Fringilla cyanea, considered as an Emberiza, probably induced 

 Say to place it under that genus. 



