232 



SPAKKOWS AND FINCHES. 



times. Sings at almost all seasons, at least from Feb. to Nov. 

 Alarm note, a sharp chirp. 



1*. FLORIDA CARDINAL, C. c. floridanus. Differs 

 from 1 in being smaller, darker, and deeper red beneath. 

 Female, deeper buff below. Fla. 



aa. Blue Grosbeaks. Guiraca. 



Medium-sized grosbeaks with rather long, pointed wings 

 and long tails ; blue with tawny wing-bands. Nests, in trees ; 

 eggs, plain pale bluish. 



1. BLUE GROSBEAK G caerulea. 7.00; deep blue; 

 narrow line at base of bill, black, plate 18. Female and 

 young, reddish-brown, paler beneath. Breeds in southern 

 portions of eastern U. S. from N. J. andPenn. (locally) south- 

 ward ; winters in Yucatan and Cuba. Song, short and low, 

 but sweet; alarm note, a rather loud chirp. Frequents open 

 sections, on the batiks of streams, among scattering trees. 

 bb. Painted Sparrows. Cyaiiospiza. 

 Small, bright-colored sparrows with long wings and rath- 

 er short tails. Females, dull, quite uniform in color. Our 

 species about 5.00. 



1. INDIGO BIRD, C. cyanea. Greenish-blue, darker 

 anteriorly. Female, brownish above, paler beneath, some- 

 Fig. 306. times slightly tinged with blue, 

 fig. 306. Eastern U. S. north to 

 the British Provinces ; winters in 

 Central America ; south in Oct. ; 

 north in May. Frequents brushy 

 hillsides. Nest, placed in a low 

 bush ; eggs, pale blue. Song, ut- 

 tered when perching on a tree top, 

 a rather harsh, unmusical warble, 

 divided into two parts, and given 

 energy, ending abruptly, heard until the middle of 

 ; alarm, a sharp chirp. Locally common. 



CC, F, bb, 1. 



with 

 Auo-. 



