FEINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 299 



"Autumnal and winter males have the feathers generally, espe- 

 cially on the back and breast, tipped with light brown, obscuring 

 somewhat the blue, though producing a beautiful appearance." 

 {Hist. N. Am. B.) 



So far as we know from the published records, and according to 

 the author's experience, the Blue Grosbeak would appear to be a 

 rare bird in Illinois, even in the southern part of the State. This, 

 considering the fact that it is not uncommon in other portions of 

 the country in the same latitudes, both along the Atlantic coast and 

 in the interior, as well as in California, is inexplicable, unless to be 

 accounted for by the supposition that it has been overlooked by 

 collectors or that it may be not uncommon in portions of the State 

 where no ornithological investigations have been made. That both 

 explanations are in a measure correct is extremely probable ; for not 

 only is the Blue Grosbeak a very local bird, but it is also, not- 

 withstanding its size, a very inconspicuous one. Unless seen under 

 the most favorable circumstances the adult male does not appear 

 to be blue, but of an ill-defined dusky color, and may easily be 

 mistaken for a Cow Blackbird (Molothrus ater) unless most carefully 

 watched ; besides, they usually sit motionless, in a watchful attitude, 

 for a considerable length of time, and thus easily escape observation. 



The Blue Grosbeak frequents much the same localities as those 

 selected by the Indigo Bird and Field Sparrow, viz., the thickets of 

 shi-ubs, briers and tall weeds lining a stream flowing across a 

 meadow or bordering a field, or the similar gro'sv'th which has sprung 

 up in an old clearing. The usual note is a strong harsh ptchick, 

 and the song of the male a very beautiful, though rather feeble, warble, 

 somewhat like that of the Purple Finch, but bearing a slight resem- 

 blance also to that of the Eose-breasted Grosbeak. The nest and eggs 

 are like a larger "edition" of those of the Indigo Bird. At least two 

 broods are raised during a season, the writer ha^ang found a brood of 

 young, just beginning to fly, on the 13th of September, in Fairfax 

 county, Virginia, where the species was somewhat common. 



Genus PASSERINA Vieillot. 



Passerina Vieillot, Analyse. 1816, 30. Type, Tanagra cyanea Linn. 

 Cyanospiza Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 500. Same Type. 



"Gkn. Chae. Bill deep at the base, compressed; the upper outline considerably 

 curved; the commissure rather concave, with an obtuse, shallow lobe in the middle. 

 Gonys slightly curved. Feet moderate; tarsus about eaual to middle toe; the outer 

 lateral toe barely longer than the inner, its claws falling short of the base of the middle; 

 hind toe about equal to the middle without claw. Claws all much curved, acute. Wings 



