376 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



601. Cyanospiza ciris (Linn.). PAINTED BUNTING: NONPAREIL. 

 Adult male. Entire under parts bright red ; head and back of neck pur- 

 plish blue, in sharp contrast to yellowish green of back and scapulars ; rump 

 and tail dull red ; wings green and reddish. Adult female : upper parts, 

 including tail, plain olive green ; under parts dull greenish yellow, brighter 

 on belly. Young : grayish brown, tinged in places with greenish ; wings 

 with buffy bands ; under parts dull buffy. Male : length (skins) 5.00- 

 5.60, wing 2.72-2.91, tail 2.06-2.24, bill .40-.44. Female: length (skins) 

 4.70-5.47, wing 2.51-2.80, tail 1.90-2.18, bill .40-.42. 



Remarks. Individuals are sometimes found having yellow feathers. 



Distribution. Breeds in the south Atlantic and Gulf States west to 

 southern Arizona and north to southern Kansas ; winters south to Panama. 



Nest. In hackberry, cat-claw, or chaparral, made of grasses and 

 sometimes leaves, lined with finer grasses and hairs. Eggs : 4 or 5, creamy 

 to bluish white, spotted with purple and reddish brown. 



When we were working on the Pecos River, in southern New 

 Mexico, the loud bright song of the nonpareil was heard at camp all 

 through the middle of the hottest days, and from the mesa we could 

 look down on the chaparral by the river and see sometimes the red 

 breast and sometimes the green sheen on the back of the cheery song- 

 ster. His song, though short, has a clear, carrying quality, and is 

 very pleasing. 



On the mesquite prairie of southern Texas the nonpareils were 

 common, and we often heard their song and caught glimpses of 

 them as we drove along. 



The courtship of the male is said to be very entertaining. To 

 attract the attention of the female he hops to the ground, spreads 

 his wings and tail, and struts around with all his colors flying. It is 

 said that he takes little part in domestic matters, but this may be 

 due to his dangerously striking plumage. 



GENUS SPOBOPHILA. 



602. Sporophila morelleti sharpei Lawr. SHABPE SEED- 



EATEK. 1 



Bill short and greatly swollen ; upper mandible convex above, concave 

 below ; wings short and rounded ; tail shorter than wings, slightly rounded ; 

 tarsus equal to middle toe and claw. Adult male : upper parts and chest 

 band black ; sides of neck, under parts and markings on wings, and rump 

 white. Adult female : upper parts olive brown with two buffy wing 

 bands ; under parts buffy brown. Immature males : intermediate between 

 adult male and female. Immature females : lighter, tinged with olive. 

 Male: length (skins) 3.68-4.42, wing 1.88-2.15, tail 1.58-1.86, bill .32- 

 .36. Female: length (skins) 3.72-4.28, wing 1.89-2.02, tail 1.52-1.78, bill 

 .32-.3S. 



Distribution. Southeastern Texas and adjacent parts of Mexico. 



At Lomita, Mr. Sennett found the little seed -eater frequenting 

 low bushes and weeds. 



1 Mr. Ridgway recognizes only one form of Sporophila morelleti. (Birds of North 

 and Middle America, 575.) 



