gg NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



rump (which is tinLretl -with piirphsh), are vcrmilion-rcd. Edges of chin, loral region, 

 greater wiiig-covcrts, iiiiuT tertiary, and intersca[niUir region, green ; tlie middle of the 

 latter gloj;si'd with yellow. Tail-leathers, lesser wing-coverts, and outer webs of quills, 

 purplish-blue. Length, about 5.50 inches ; wing, 2.70. 



FtnuiJe. Clear dark green above ; yellowish beneath. lo^<//f/, like female. 



II.vi!. South Atlantic and Gulf J^tates to the Pecos River, Texas; south into Middle 

 America to Panama; 8. Illinois (Ridgwav); Honduras (Scl. 1858, ."358); Oaxaca (8cl. 

 1850, 37!>) : Cordova (Scl. 1850, ;i04) ; (Juateniala (Scl. Ibis, I, 17) ; Honduras (Scl. II, 

 10); Cul)a (Cab. J. IV, 8); Veragua (Salv. 18(57, 142): Costa Rica (Lawk. IX, 102); 

 Vera Cruz, winter (Sum. M. 13. S. I, 552); Yucatan (Lawr. IX, 200). 



Tail verv sli.i,'litly emargiiiated and rounded ; second, third, and fourth 

 ([uills ecjual ; first ratlier shorter than the iifth. 



Tho female is readily distinguishalde from that of C. cyniua by the green 

 instead of dull l»rown of tlie back, and the yellow of the under parts. 



Specimens of this species from all parts of its range appear to be quite 

 identical. 



Habits. Th(^ Nonpareil or Painted Bunting of the Southern and South- 

 eastern States liii- a somewliat restricted distribution, not being found any 

 farther to the north on the Atlantic Coast than South Carolina and Creorgia, 

 and probably only in the more soutliern portions of those States It has 

 been traced as far to the west as Texas. It was also met with at Monterey, 

 ^lexico, by Lieutenant Couch, and in winter by Mr. Boucard, at Plaza Vi- 

 cente, Oaxaca. 



Mr. Dresser fouml it verv common both at Matannras and at San Ante- 



« 



nio, breeding in l)oth jdaccs. Dr. Cones did not meet with it in Columbia, 

 S. C, and considers it as confined to the low country, and as rare even there. 

 It breeds about the city of Charleston, S. C., from which neighborhood I 

 have received its eijus in considerable numbers, from Dr. Bachman. It is 

 also found in the lower counties of Georgia, and breeds in the vicinity of 

 Savannah. It was not met with by Dr. Uerhardt in the northern ])ortion 

 of tliat State. Dr. Woodhouse found it quite abundant in all parts of 

 Texas, where he tells us the sweet warblings of this beautiful anil active 

 little Finch added much to the ])leasures of his trip across the prairies. Its 

 favorite places of resort apj^eared to be small thickets, and when singing it 

 selected the hi<j:hest branches of a busli. 



In the Beport on the birds of tlie Mexican Boundary Survey, Lieutenant 

 Couch met with this species among the low hedges in the suburbs of 

 Pes([ueria (Irande. ^Ir. J. H. Clark observed that tlie individuals of this 

 species diminished as they proceeded westward. The male was almost al- 

 ways seen alone, flying a long distance for so small a bird. Tlieir nests, he 

 adds, were built of very line grass, in low bushes, and resting in the crotch 

 of the twigs. Males were never seen about the nest, but the females were 

 so gentle as to allow themselves to be taken off the nest, which was deliber- 

 ately done on more than one occasion. 



Dr. Kennerly reports having often listened to the melodious warblings of 



