PASSERES — FRINGILLIMS SPIZA. 173 



and the larvae of insects. It extends across the continent to the Rocky mountains. It winters 

 in the Southern and Western States, reaching us in April, and extending its migration north 

 to Labrador. Few remain with us beyond the latter part of November, unless the winter 

 should be remarkably open. Its geographical range appears to be comprised between the 

 23d and 48th parallels. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



P. arcticus. (Atjd. Vol. 3, p. 164, pi. 194.) Black above and round the neck and breast. Back, 

 scapulars and wing-coverts tipped with white. Inner web of three outer tail-feathers with a white 

 spot. Female, blackish grey, smaller. Length, 8 inches. Columbia river. 



GENUS SPIZA. Bonaparte. 



Bill short, conical, acute. Upper mandible convex above ; the edges ascending for one-third 

 of their length, with a slight notch near the slightly bent tip. Nostrils basal, roundish, 

 partly concealed by feathers. Tarsus much compressed. Tail emarginate. Hind toe 

 large. Second and third quills longest ; first and fourth subequal. Plumage brilliant. 



THE INDIGO-BIRD. 



Spiza cyanea. 

 plate lxviii. fig. 157. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Tanagra cyanea. Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. p. 315. 



Indigo Bunting. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 365 (blue do., moulting male). Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 1, 



p. 100, pi. 6, fig. 5 (male). Bonaparte, Am. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 91, p!. 15, fig. 4 (female). 



Audubon, fol. pi. 74. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 473. Kiktland, Zool. Ohio, p. 183. 

 Spiza cyanea. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 3, p. 9G, pi. 170. 

 S. id., Indigo-painted Hunting. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 110. 



Characteristics. Blue, with greenish tints. Wings and tail-feathers dusky. Female, 

 reddish brown ; beneath soiled buff. Length, 5^ inches. 



Description. Upper mandible with slightly sinuated edges, and notched near the tip ; 

 this notch, in the specimens I have examined, is most distinct in the female. Second quill 

 longest. Tail distinctly emarginate and rounded, extending 1  1 beyond the tip of the folded 

 wings. 



