62 



THE NONPAREIL. 



Spiza Ciris. 



This very handsome bii-d is found in the warm States, 

 and often brought on here by saylors from Savannah, 

 Mobile, and other seaports. Its color (that is, of the 

 male, when three years old) on the head and neck is a 

 most beautiful violet ; the back, yellowish green ; tail, 

 brown ; breast and underpart of the body, bright red ; 

 length, five and a half inches. The color of a female is 

 dull green on the upper part, and yellowish green on 

 the lower part of the body, being the same as the male 

 when one year old. 



Its song is similar to that of the Indigo Bird. Its 

 food and general treatment may also be the same. 



BOB-0-LINK. 



This bird has received his name from a peculiar song 

 of his own, in which he expresses very distinctly the 

 words j,bob-o-link^^ several times in succession. They 

 are found in our State, in the summer season, in great 

 numbers ; but migrate southerly when cold weather ar- 

 rives. As to his singing qualities, he is generally con- 

 sidered to be the next best to the Mocking Bird ; indeed, 

 what I have seen of him, inclines me to give the same 

 opinion. It is principally fed on canary, millet and 

 rape seed, to which must be added plenty of green food, 

 and frequently a bath given him. 



