276 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



598, Indigo Bunting, Cyanospiza cyanea. 



Range. United States, east of the Plains, breeding north to Manitoba and 

 Nova Scotia; winters south of the United States. 



This handsome species is rich indigo on the head and neck, 



shading into blue or greenish blue on the upper and under- 



,/ parts. They are very abundant in some localities along road- 



sides, in thickets and open woods, where their song is frequent- 



rpaiPhinishwhitPi ty heard, it being a very sweet refrain resembling, somewhat, 



J certain passages from that of the Goldfinch. They nest at low 



elevations in thickets or vines, building their home of grass and weeds, lined 



with fine grass or hair, it being quite a substantial structure. The eggs, which 



are laid in June or July, are pale bluish white. Size .75 x .52. 



599. Lazuli Bunting. Cyanospiza amoena. 



Range. Western United States, breeding from Mexico to northern United 

 States and the interior of British Columbia; east to Kansas. 



This handsome bird is of the size of cyanea, but is azure 

 blue above and on the throat, the breast being brownish and 

 the rest of the underparts, white. It is the western represen- 

 tative of the Indigo Bunting, and its habits and nesting habits i 

 are in all respects the same as those of that species, the nests 

 being made of twigs, grasses, strips of bark, weeds, leaves, 



Siz'e .75 h x .55 gS ^ ^ ^^ f [Pale bluish white } 



600. Varied Bunting. Cyanospiza versicolor. 

 Range. Mexico and north to southern Texas. 



The general color of this odd bird is purplish, changing to 

 / N bright blue on the crown and rump, and with a reddish nape. 



They are quite abundant in some localities along the Lower 

 Rio Grande, where they nest in bushes and tangled under 

 brush, the nests being like those of the last species, and rare- 

 ly above five feet from the ground. The eggs are pale bluish 

 , , white, three or four in number, and laid during May or June. 

 [Pale bluish white.] Size .'75 x .55. 



600a. Beautiful Bunting. Cyanospiza versicolor pulchr a. 

 Range. Southern Lower California. 

 Slightly smaller but very similar to the last; eggs will not differ. 



601. Painted Bunting; Nonpareil. Cyanospiza ciris. 



Range. South Atlantic and Gulf States; north to Illinois in the interior. 



Without exception, this is the most gaudily attired of North 

 American birds, the whole underparts being red, the head and 

 neck deep blue, the back yellowish green, and the rump pur- 

 ple, the line of demarcation between the colors being sharp. 

 They are frequently kept as cage birds but more for their 

 bright colors than any musical ability, their song being 

 of the character of the Indigo Bunting, but weaker 

 and less musical. They are very abundant in the South At- 

 lantic and Gulf States, where they nest usually in bushes or 

 hedges at low elevations, but occasionally on branches of tall trees. Their nests 

 are made of weeds, shreds of bark, grasses, etc., lined with fine grass, very 

 much resembling that of the Indigo. Their eggs are laid in May, June or July, 

 they frequently raising two broods; they are white or pale bluish white, speckled 

 with reddish brown. Size .75 x .55. 



