f? 



FRIXGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. §7 



would almost separate the two sienerieally. Tlie wing is shorter and more Ij 



rounded, the tburth (iuill lonj^est, then the third, second, and fifth. Tlie hrst H 



is only a little longer than the seventh. The tail is decidedly rounded ; H 



ratlier more so than in C. cf/auea. 



The female is very similar to those of C. amrena and cjianca. The former 

 has whitish bands on tlie wing ; the latter differs in shape of bill, and has 

 the first quill but little less than the second, or longest; not shorter than 



the sixth. In o-i,0oo J , Cape St. Lucas (June 2G), the colors are much i^ 



brighter than in any other of the collection. The whole occiput is bright ^ 



scarlet, and the forehead nearly pure light blue, neither having scarcely a [j: 



tinge of i)urple. fl 



Autunmal and winter males have the bright tints very slightly obscured 

 by grayish-brown tips to the feathers, especially on the back. The female \\ 



in autumn is much more brown above and more rusty beneath than in 

 spring. r 



Habits. This beautiful species has only doubtful claims to a place in 

 our fauna. It is a Mexican species, and may occasionally cross into our 

 territory. It was met witli at Boquillo, in the ^lexican State of Xew Leon, 

 by Lieutenant Couch. It was procured in Cluatemala by Dr. Van Tatten 

 and by Salvin, and is given by Bonaparte as from Peru. It is also found at 

 Cape St. Lucas, where it is not rare, and where it ])reeds. 



This bird is also found at Orizaba, according to Sumichrast, but is quite 

 rare in tlie State of Vera Cruz. Its common name is Frnsiano. Its geo- 

 graphical distribution he was not able satisfactorily to ascertain. 



Among the memoranda of ^Ir. Xantus made at Cape St. Lucas, we find 

 the following in connection with this species: 517, nest and three eggs of 

 Cjjanospiza versicolor ; obtained ^lay 5 on a myrtle hanging down from very 

 high perpendicular bluffs, off the Trajoles, at Cape St. Lucas. 15.35, nest 

 and egirs of the same found on a vine ten feet high. 



Specimens of this species were taken by Mr. Boucard at Oaxaca, Mexico, 

 during the winter months. 



Cyanospiza ciris, Ixmud. 



NONFABEIL; FAINTED BUNTING. 



Embcriza ciris, Lixn. Kong. Sv. Vet. Akad. Hand. 1750, 278 ; tab. vii, f. 1. — Ib. Syst. 

 Nat. I, 1766, 313. — WiLsox, Am. Orn. HI, 1811, 68, pi. xxiv, f. 1, 2. Passcrina 

 ciris, ViEiLLOT, Cal. Ois. I, 1S24, 81, pi. Lxvi. FringiUa ciris, Ari). Orn. Biog. 1, 

 1832, 279; V, r>l7, 1)1. liii. Spiza ciris, Bon. List, 1838. — Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 

 476. —Am. Syn. 1839, 1C.8. — In. Birds Am. 111,1841, 93, pi. dxi.x. C;,rnospi'.if 

 ciris, Bairi), Birds N. Am. 1^58, 503. — lu. Mex. Bound. J I, Birds, 17, pi. xviii, f. 2. 

 — Hf.ekm. X, 0, p. 14. ? Fri}i(jiUa mariposa, 8coroLi, Annals Hist. Nat. I, 1769, 

 151. Puiiifcd Finch, C.\n>i!V, Pennant. 



Sp. Char. }fule. Head and nock all round r.itramarino-blue. oxcoptinir a narrow stripe 

 from the chin to the breist, which, with the under parts? generally, the eyelids, and the 



? <1 



