802 BIBD8 OF ILLINOIS. 



the juxtaposition of noncomplimentary coloifs — green, blue, and red 

 — strongly suggesting the inartistic "daubing" of a juvenile would- 

 be artist. 



So far as the records are concerned, this species claims a place 

 in the Illinois fauna, from the circumstance that a female was 

 seen by the WTiter on June 10, 1871, close by the roadside, in 

 Wabash county, and under circumstances which allow of no doubt as 

 to correct identification. The date and also the character of the 

 locaUty suggest the possibility, if not probability, that a pair were 

 breeding in that vicinity. It will doubtless yet be found breeding 

 in the more southern portions of the State. 



The eggs of this species are very different from those of the 

 Indigo Bird, being heavily spotted round the larger end with reddish 

 l)rown. 



Genl-s SPIZA Boxap.\rte. 



Spiza BoNAP. Jour. Phil. Ao. iv, pt. i. kug. 1S24.45.— Type. Kmheriin (Tuipricniin Gmel. 



Kiispiia BoNAP. Sagcio. 1832. HI. Same type. 



Juispiiia Caban. Muw. Hein. i. May. 1851. 133. Same type. 



"Gen. Char. Bill large and strong. swollen, ami without any rldgos; the lower man- 

 dible nearly ay high as the upper: as broad at the base as the length of the gonys. and 

 <'onsiderably broadiT than the upper mandible; the edges mueh inllexed. and shnlting 

 mueh within the upper mandible; the eommlssure eonsiderably angulated at thi' bn«<'. 

 then deeidedly sinuatod. The tar»us barely equal to the middle toe; the lateral toes 

 nearly eauul. not rimehing to the base of the midille elaw;the hind toe about ecjual to the 

 middle one without its eluw. The wings long and aeute. reaching nearly to the middle 

 of the tail: the tertials deeidedly longer than the secondaries, but much shorter than the 

 primaries: first quill longest, the others regularly graduated. Tail considerably shorter 

 than the wings, though moderately long; nearly even, although slightly emarginat.-: 

 the outer feathers scarcely shorter. Middle of back only striped; beneath without 

 streaks." (Hist. X. Am. It.) 



This genus comes nearest to Calammspiza, but has shorter tertials, 

 more slender bill, weaker and more curved claws, etc. It is entirely 

 peculiar to North America,* and contains, so far as known, only 

 two species, one of which is so very rare that but a single specimen 

 has ever been obtained. 



•An Old World Bunting yKmhi'i-iin viflaiiiifeplinln RcoP.l has been refi'rredto Kii.titUrt, 

 evon by some of the Icailing Kuropean authorities: but it is not only generically distini't. 

 but a membir of quilc ii different group of I he Family. 



