4G,S NONP-\UEIL. 



Nests, composed of fine grass liuud with lior»c luiii's ;iu(l finer gnsses. Dimensions : external din- 

 meter, 3 inches; internal, 2.50; external depth, 1.50 inches, internal, l.ni). 



Eggs, four in number, rather rouud in form, ashy-white, spotted and blotched with brown, lilac and 

 umber. Dimensions, from .60 x .55 to .55 x .45. 



HABITS. 



The songs of the heuutiful Nonpareil may be heard ir. tht' neigliliorliood of alinost 

 anv tantded thicket throaghont the entire extent of Florida after the Ih'st of May; hut 

 before this they are only to be seen on the Keys or in the extreme southern ])oi-tio;)s of 

 the mainland. We foinid them very abundant in the innnediate vieinity of Miami early 

 in Ja,nuar\', but did not hear the song until late in Maveh. 



This species is always shy and retiring, sekloni apjtearing in the open, luit remaining 

 in the dense thorn v undergrowth which covers all waste places in Florida, especially if tlie 

 soil has been cultivated. Whenever the birds perceive an intruder they retire into tlie 

 depths of these l;istnes.ses, and it then re([uires considerable beating to drive them out ; when 

 thev at once dart into the nearest cover. The adult males are especially shy, a)id stddom 

 show themselves. Even Avhile singing they remain concealed, and although we were thus 

 furnished with a clew to their whereabouts, it was with the utmost dilliculty that wecaught 

 siwht of the authors of tlie harmonious strains which nearly always greeted our ears when 

 we were m the A'icinity of their home.s. During the latter ])art of May the males may 

 1)6 seen playfully chasing the females, but 1 do not think they breed until June. 



GENUS II. EUETIIEIA. THE LITTLE FINCHES. 



Gen. Cii. Coracoid bones a little slujrter than the top of keel, which but slightly exceeds in height 

 one-half the width of the sternum. Size, small. 



Members of this genus may be distinguished by the small size, cnmbined with the sternal charactei's 

 given above. 



EUETHEIA BICOLOR. 

 Grassquit. 



Pl.^te XXY. Upper figure, male: lower, female. Plant. Lantana. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii. Size, very small, much below^ the average of N. A. Eringillidae. Bill, short, conical, the 

 height at base being equal to two thirds the length: there is but little lateral constriction but the upper man- 

 dible is slightly arched from base to tip. The wings are sliort and rouuderl. the third and fourth quills being 

 longest as a rule and the first is generally equal to the seventh or a little shorter than it. The tail is slightly 

 rounded, the graduation amounting to abjut .10. Feet, quite large, the middle toe and claw being a little 

 longer than the tarsus. The coracoids are about equal in length to the keel and are slightly longer than the 

 furcula, the terminal expansion of which does not approach very near the keel, bat is produced upward 

 so that it comes in contact with the lower processes of the manubrium. The keel is low, but little exceeds one 

 half the width of the sternum. The marginal indentations are equaUn depth to the height of the keel. The 

 posterior angle of the costal processes is not well defined, and the anterior angle is acutely pointed. The 

 scapulars are about equal in length to the coracoids, the terminal portion is well curved and the upper angle 

 is well rounded and produced into a point terminally. 



Color. Adult male, head all around, anterior, two thirds of body beneath, dull, purplish black above 



