80 



NORTH AMERICAN BiRDS. 



on tlie moimtiiin-sides. It is not montioned by Suniiclirnst as a Inrd of Vera 

 Cniz, but was I'ound diiriiii: the winter months at Oaxaca, Mexico, by Mr. 

 lioucard. 



Mr. O. Salvin states (Ibis, Til. ]). 'M'i'2) tbat lie found this species, tliough 

 not of very common occurrence, pretty genei-ally distributed, in winter, 

 tlirouiLjhout Vera Taz. He met with it on the Plains of Salama, and all the 

 collecti(»ns from the warmer districts to the northward of Coban contained 

 specimens. Tt was found by Mr. Georj^^e ii. AVhite near Mexico. 



AVilson si)eaks of this bird as retired and solitary, an<l also as a scarce 

 S])ecies, and as havini,' but few notes, its most «'omm(m one being a loud 

 chf'd: He was, however, aware tliat at times they have a few low sweet- 

 toned notes. He mentions their being kei)t in Charleston in cages, but as 

 seldom singing in continement. He fed a caged bird of this sj»ecies on Indian 

 corn, whicli it easily broke witli its jjowerful bill; also on hemp-seed, millet, 

 and berries. He speaks of them as timid, watchful, silent, and active. 



Mr. Audubon was, apparently, somewhat at fault in regard to the pecu- 

 liarities nf this s}>ecies. His accounts of the eggs of the Pt/nnii/a (vstlva 

 are entirely inap]>licable to that sj)ecies, and, so far as I know, apply to no 

 otlier bird tlian the lUue (Jrosbeak, to which they exactly correspond. He 

 makes no mention and gives no description of the eggs of the latter. His 

 statements as to tlie nest ap]>ear to be correct. 



Dr. Bachman kept several of these birds in an aviary ; two of these mated, 

 took possession of the nest of a Cardinal Grosbeak, which they drove off, 

 and laid two eggs that were unfortunately destroyed. In the aviary these 

 birds were silent. ]\Ir. Audubon kept one. in confinement, M'ith him in PMin- 

 Imrgli. It had been raised from the nest. This bird fre([Uently sang in the 

 niiiht, and before dawn. It was extremely tame, cominir out or noin" into 

 its cage at pleasure, perching on the head-dress of ^Irs. Audubon, or on the 

 heads of otlur members of the family, alightini' on the table and feedinuj on 

 almost anything given to it. If a gold or silver coin was thrown upon the 

 table he would go to it, take it up in his bill, and apparently toss it about 

 with ])leasure. After loathing he would go to the tire and perch on the fender 

 to dry himself. He would attack otlier birds, if put into the cage with him. 

 In feeding he sometimes held his food i.. ]iis claws like a Hawk. 



Tlie eggs of this bird are of a uniform light-ldue color, and most resemble 

 those of tlie Sialia orctira, but are larger and of a lighter color. Their color 

 is (piite fugitive, and readily fades into a dull v/hite upon even a slight ex- 

 posure to light. They are of an oval sliaj/e, ecjually rounded at either end, 

 and measure .98 of an inch in length by .65 in breadth. 



