446 KORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



of bill at base .55-.60 (.56). Eggs .90 x 65. IJah. Western United 

 States, north to Colorado, California, etc., south throughout Mexico. 



597a. G. caerulea eurhyncha Coues. Western Blue Grosbeak." 

 a*. "Wing-coverts without differently colorod tips ; first quill shorter than seventh 

 (sometimes shorter than eighth). (Cyanoloxia Bon.\p.) 



Adult male: Entirely dull blue-black, with a superficial tinting of dull 

 indigo-bluo, most obvious on forehead, superciliary region, cheeks, and 

 lesser wing-coverts. AcMt female: Uniform rich vandj-ke-brown (or deep 

 burnt-umber), browner above, rather lighter and brighter brown beneath. 

 Length about 6.00-6.50, wing 3.00-3.30, tail 2.60-3.00, exposed culmen 

 .75-.85, depth of bill at base .65-.75. Hab. Central America, north to 

 Guatemala and eastern Mexico (Vera Cruz). 



G. cyanoides concreta (Du Bus). Blue-black Grosbeak.' 



Genus PASSERINA Vieillot. (Page 385, pi. CXII., fig. 5.) 



Species. 



Common Characters. — Adult males very brightly colored, with more or less 

 of blue in the plumage, often in combination with other rich colors, as red, yellow, 

 purple, or green. Adult females and yonng plain brownish above, beneath similar, 

 but lighter. Nests in bushes. Eggs whitish, sometimes spotted with reddish brown, 

 oftener plain. 



a'. Bill larger and more swollen, the lateral outlines decidedly convex, and the cut- 

 ting-edge of upper mandible convex in middle portion. (Subgenus Cyano- 

 compsa Cabanis.') 

 6'. Gonys not more than .30; wing not more than 2.85. (Adult v\ales dark 

 blue, becoming bright rich blue on forehead, superciliary region, cheeks, 

 rump, and lesser wing-coverts; female and young brown, paler beneath, 

 the throat and middle of belly whitish.) 

 c'. Blue a rich dark marinc-bhio shade, brightening on forehead, etc., into 

 azure ; length about 5.00, wing 2.60-2.85, tail 2.20-2.35, exposed cul- 

 men .40-.45. Hab. Southern and eastern Mexico, north to lower 

 Eio Granilc Valley. 



p. parellina (Bon.vp.). Blue Bunting.* 



c'. Blue an indigo shade, brightening on forehead, etc., into cerulean-blue 



(almost turquoise on forehead) ; length about 5.00, wing 2.80, tail 



' Ouiraca crertiica, var. eiirhi/nchn CouES, Am. Nut. viii. Pcpt. 1S74, 503. 



Although two of the three charnctcrs orij^inally nscribed ( i.c.^ larger size and dilTcrcnt color of bill) fail of 

 substantiation, the tliinl (larijor size), taken in connection with well-marked differences of plumage, is quite 

 Bufilcicnt to characterize the western (or, rather, southwestern) bird as a well-defined race. 



' Cj/nnnloxia concreta Dn Bus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xxii. ISaS, 150. 



» Ciinnocompnn Cab., J. f. 0. ISOl, 4. Type, Ci/nunlorin parellina BoNAP. 



« Cyanoloxia parellina BoNAP., Consp. i. 1850, 502. Paescrina parellina RiDCW., Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. iii. 

 I8S0, 182. 



