PERCHING BIRDS 



breast being browish and the rest of the under- 

 parts, white. It is the western representative 

 of the Indigo Bunting, and its 

 habits and nesting habits are 

 in all respects the same as 

 I those of that species, the 

 nests being made of twigs, 

 grasses, strips of bark, weeds, 

 leaves, etc. The eggs are like 

 those of the last, pale bluish 

 white. Size .75 x .55. 





Pale bluish 

 vhite 



.. 



Pale bluish 

 white 



600. VARIED BUNTING. Passerina 



versicolor 



Range. Mexico and north to southern Texas. 



The general color of this odd bird is purp- 

 lish, changing to bright blue on the crown and 

 ^^__^^ rump, and with a reddish 



nape. They are quite abun- 

 dant in some localities along 

 the Lower Rio Grande, where 

 they nest in bushes and tan- 

 gled under bru&h, the nests being like those of the last 

 species, and rarely above five feet from the ground. The eggs 

 are pale bluish white, three or four in number, and laid dur- 

 ing May or June. Size .75 x .55. 



600a. BEAUTIFUL BUNTING. Passerina versicolor pulchra. 

 Range. Southern Lower California. 

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



601. PAINTED BUNTING. Passerina ciris. 



Lazuli Bunting 



Range. South Atlantic and 



Varied Bunting 



ciris. 



Gulf States; north to Illinois in the interior. 

 Without exception, this is the most gaud- 

 ily attired of North American birds, the 

 whole underparts being red, the head and 

 neck deep blue, the back yellowish green, and 

 the rump purple, the line of demarcation be- 

 tween the colors being sharp. They are fre- 

 quently kept as cage birds but more for their 

 bright colors than any musical ability, their 

 song being of the character of the Indigo Bunt- 

 ing, but weaker and less musical. They are 

 very abundant in the South Atlantic and Gulf 

 States, where they nest usual- 

 ly 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 white 



that of the Indigo. Their 

 eggs are laid in May, June or July, they fre- 

 quently raising two broods; they are white or 

 pale bluish white, speckled with reddish 

 brown. Size .75 x .55. 

 367 



