THE NONPAREIL BUNTING. 47 



The Buntings are decidedly more insectivorous than the majority 

 of the typical Finches, or even the Ploceida: indeed, to the latter, 

 insect food is a luxury rather than a necessity, and most of them 

 entirely ignore it, when offered to them; the true Weavers, however, 

 are rather fond of spiders, mealworms, and small caterpillars, as also 

 are some of the Waxbills. 



On the other hand, the Emberizina are much less eager for green 

 food than the Fringillince; frequently refusing it altogether when it is 

 provided. They, however, resemble the true Finches in their fondness 

 for soft food, but especially when breeding. 



THE NONPAREIL BUNTING. 



Cyanopiza ciris, LINN. 



A VERY common species in the Southern United States, spreading 

 along the coast as far north as Carolina; southward to Texas, 

 Central America from Mexico to Guatemala and Panama, Cuba, the 

 Bahamas, Cozumel and neighbouring islands. 



The cock bird has the crown of the head, cheeks and mantle of 

 an almost ultramarine blue; the back golden green shading into orange 

 on the lower portion ; the upper tail-coverts yellow shading into golden 

 green ; the tail feathers duller green ; the wing feathers greyish bronze ; 

 the lesser coverts being wholly bronze, but the remaining feathers with 

 a golden green outer web ; axillaries reddish ; chin, throat, breast, belly 

 and under tail-coverts bright vermilion red ; sides and flanks slightly 

 tinged with green. Length five inches ; beak and legs dark grey ; 

 feathers encircling eye orange; iris hazel. 



In confinement, excepting in an open sunny aviary, all the 

 vermilion colouring gradually disappears from the under surface, which 

 becomes bright yellow excepting on the chin, which sometimes retains 

 a reddish tinge. 



The hen is altogether duller in colouring than the cock: the upper 



