PERCHING BIRDS 



breast being browish and the rest of the under- 

 pays, white. It is the western representative 

 of the Indigo Bunting, and its 

 habits and nesting habits are 

 in all respects the same as 

 those of that species, the 

 nests being made of twigs, 

 ■• • grasses, strips of bark, weeds, 



leaves, etc. The eggs are like 

 those of the last, pale bluish 

 white. Size .75 x .55. 



i' 



le bluish 



vV 1 1 i I i ' 



I. 



Pale bluish 



\V I I i I I ■ 



600. Varied Bunting. Passerina 



versicolor 



Range. — Mexico and north to southern Texas. 



The general color of this odd bird is purp- 

 lish, changing to bright blue on the crown and 

 rump, and with a reddish 

 nape. They arc quite abun- 

 dant in some localities along 

 the Lower Rio Grande, where 

 they nest in bushes and tan- 

 gled under brush, the nests being like those of the last 

 species, and rarely above five feet from the ground. The eggs 

 are pale bluish white, three or four in number, and laid dur- 

 ing May or June. Size .75 x .55. 



600a. Beautiful Bunting. Passerina versicolor pulchra. 

 Range- Southern Lower California. 

 Slightly smaller but very similar to the last; eggs will not differ. 



601. Painted Bunting. Passerina ciris. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States; north to Illinois in the interior. 



Without exception, this is the most gaud- 

 ily attired of North American birds, the 

 whole underparts being red, the head and 

 neck deep blue, the back yellowish green, and 

 tii< rump purple, the line of demarcation be- 

 tween the colors being sharp. They are fre- 

 quently kept as cage birds hut more for their 

 bright colors than any musical ability, their 

 song being of the character of the Indigo Hunt- 

 ing, hut weaker and less musical. They are 

 jjff \.r\ abundant in the South Atlantic and Gulf 



^__JL ^fffij/ States, where they nest usual- 



Is in bushes or hedges at low 

 elevations, but occasionally 

 on branches of tall trees. 



Their nests are mad ' 



^*f& J&m u '' '' '' ■ a '' r '' '' s " ' '' ;| ' l<> 



grasses, etc., lined with line 



grass, very much resembling 



that Of the IndigO. Then- 

 are laid in May. June ..r July, thej fre 

 quentlj raising two broods; they are white or 

 pale bluish white. Bpeckled 

 brow n. Size .75 s 

 367 



X a i led Muni i lie. 



Whit. 



w it h reddish 





*"',. 



