FINCHES. 343 



ful beyond description, and there seems to be no end to the 

 fanciful stories about him. He is an occasional visitor. 



SIALIA Wilsonii, (Swain.) Blue-bird. This universal 

 favorite is continent wide in its range. He is a hardy bird, 

 breeding from Labrador to Mexico. A constant friend of 

 man, his presence is always hailed with delight, as he brings 

 with him thoughts of the summer, butterflies, and flowers, 

 and all the bright, vernal visions of country life. A beauti- 

 ful, gentle creature, everybody loves the blue-bird. 



ANTHUS Spinoletta, (Bon.) Brown lark. This is a bird 

 of passage in Pennsylvania, and rarely seen on the moun- 

 tain. 



EMBERIZA Nivalis, (Linn.) The Snow-bunting is a bird 

 of high arctic regions, and sometimes in his southern winter- 

 rovings visits the mountain. 



EMBERIZA Americana, (Wilson.) Black-throated bunt- 

 ing. This bunting sometimes comes to the mountain in May, 

 leaving for Mexico in September. 



PYRANGA Rubra, (Linn.) Scarlet tanager. This brilliant 

 blood-red bird, with black wings, frequently startles the ex- 

 plorer of the mountain forests with the vivid flash of his 

 crimson plumage. He passes his winters in Tropical 

 America, coming to Pennsylvania the first part of May, and 

 retiring south the first of September. A gaudy and distin- 

 guished bird, he looks like a tropical product. His bio- 

 graphers endow him with the rare and transcendent elements 

 of tenderness in love, and fidelity in affection. 



FINCHES. 



This is a numerous family. They live on seeds and grain ; 

 sometimes on insects. Many of the species are musical and 

 easily domesticated. 



SPIZA Cyanea, (Wilson.) The Indigo-bird is a small but 

 bright and beautiful species. He passes his winters in Tro- 

 pical America, and visits the mountain in the middle of May, 

 retiring in September. He is a regular charm, styled by the 



