FRINGILLID^E — THE FINCHES. 87 



would almost separate the two generically. The wing is shorter and more 

 rounded, the fourth quill longest, then the third, second, and fifth. The first 

 is only a little longer than the seventh. The tail is decidedly rounded ; 

 rather more so than in C. cyanea. 



The female is very similar to those of C. amcena and cyanea. The former 

 has whitish bands on the wing ; the latter differs in shape of bill, and has 

 the first quill but little less than the second, or longest ; not shorter than 

 the sixth. In 34,033 ^ , Cape St. Lucas (June 26), the colors are much 

 brighter than in any other of the collection. The whole occiput is bright 

 scarlet, and the forehead nearly pure light blue, neither having scarcely a 

 tinge of purple. 



Autumnal and winter males have the bright tints very slightly obscured 

 by grayish-brown tips to the feathers, especially on the back. The female 

 in autumn is much more brown aljove and more rusty beneath than in 

 spring. 



Habits. This beautiful species has only doubtful claims to a place in 

 our fauna. It is a Mexican species, and may occasionally cross into our 

 territory. It was met with at Boquillo, in the Mexican State of New Leon, 

 by Lieutenant Couch. It was procured in Guatemala by Dr. Van Patten 

 and by Salvin, and is given by Bonaparte as from I'eru. It is also found at 

 Cape St. Lucas, where it is not rare, and where it breeds. 



This bird is also found at Orizaba, according to Sumichrast, but is quite 

 rare in the State of Vera Cruz. Its common name is Prusiano. Its geo- 

 graphical distribution he was not able satisfactorily to ascertain. 



Among the memoranda of Mr. Xantus made at Cape St. Lucas, we find 

 the following in connection with this species : 517, nest and three eggs of 

 Cyanospiza versicolor ; obtained May 5 on a myrtle hanging down from very 

 high perpendicular bluffs, off the Trajoles, at Cape St. Lucas. 1535, nest 

 and eggs of the same found on a vine ten feet high. 



Specimens of this species were taken by Mr. Boucard at Oaxaca, Mexico, 

 during the winter months. 



Cyanospiza ciris, Baird. 



NONPAREIL; PAINTED BUNTING. 



Emberiza ciris, Linn. Kong. Sv. Vet. Akad. Hand. 1750, 278 ; tab. vii, f. 1. — Ib. Syst. 

 Nat. I, 1766, 313. —Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 68, pi. xxiv, f. 1, 2. Fasserina 

 ciris, ViEiLLOT, Gal. Ois. I, 1824, 81, pi. Ixvi. Fringilla ciris, Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 

 1832, 279 ; V, 517, pi. liii. Spizn ciris, Bon. List, 1838. — Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 

 476. — Aud. Syn. 1839, 108. —Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 93, pi. clxix. Cyanospiza 

 ciris, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 503. — Ib. Mex. Bound. JI, Birds, 17, pi. xviii, f. 2. 

 — Heerm. X, c, p. 14. ? Fringilla mariposa, ScoPOLi, Annals Hist. Nat. I, 1769, 

 151. Painted Finch, Catesby, Pennant. 



Sp. Char. Male. Head and neck all round idtramarine-blue, excepting a narrow stripe 

 from the chin to the breast, which, with the under parts generally, the eyelids, and the 



