802 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



the juxtaposition of noncomplimentary colors green, blue, and red 

 strongly suggesting the inartistic "daubing" of a juvenile would- 

 be artist. 



So far as the records are concerned, this species claims a place 

 in the Illinois fauna, from the circumstance that a female was 

 seen by the writer on June 10, 1871, close by the roadside, in 

 Wabash county, and under circumstances which allow of no doubt as 

 to correct identification. The date and also the character of the 

 locality suggest the possibility, if not probability, that a pair were 

 breeding in that vicinity. It will doubtless yet be found breeding 

 in the more southern portions of the State. 



The eggs of this species are very different from those of the 

 Indigo Bird, being heavily spotted round the larger end with reddish 

 brown. 



GENUS SPIZA BONAPARTE. 



Spiza BONAP. Jour. Phil. Ac. iv, pt. i, Aug. 1824,45. Type, Ember iza americana GMBL. 



Euspiza BONAP. Saggio, 1832,141. Same type. 



Euspina CABAN. Mus. Hein. i, May, 1851, 133. Same type. 



"GEN. CHAE. Bill large and strong, swollen, and without any ridges; the lower man- 

 dible nearly as high as the upper; as broad at the base as the length of the gonys, and 

 considerably broader than the upper mandible; the edges much inflexed, and shutting 

 much within the upper mandible; the commissure considerably angulated at the base, 

 then decidedly sinuated. The tarsus barely eaual to the middle toe ; the lateral toes 

 nearly equal, not reaching to the base of the middle claw; the hind toe about equal to the 

 middle one without its claw. The wings long and acute, reaching nearly to the middle 

 of the tail; the tertials decidedly longer than the secondaries, but much shorter than the 

 primaries; first quill longest, the others regularly graduated. Tail considerably shorter 

 than the wings, though moderately long; nearly even, although slightly emarginate; 

 the outer feathers scarcely shorter. Middle of back only striped; beneath without 

 streaks." (Hist. N. Am. B.) 



This genus comes nearest to Calamospiza, but has shorter tertials, 

 more slender bill, weaker and more curved claws, etc. It is entirely 

 peculiar to North America,* and contains, so far as known, only 

 two species, one of which is so very rare that but a single specimen 

 has ever been obtained. 



*An Old World Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala SCOP.) has been referred to Euspiza, 

 even by some of the leading European authorities ; but it is not only genetically distinct, 

 but a member of quite a different group of the Family. 



