316 HISTORY OF THE 



for several years have ceased to be a resident, or even a vis> 

 it ant. 



B. 63. R. 392. C. 460. G. 180, 147. U. 382. 



HABITAT. Southern States; north casually to New York, 

 Michigan and Wisconsin; regularly to Ohio, Illinois, and south- 

 ern Nebraska; west to eastern Colorado. 



SP. CHAR. "Head and neck, all round, gamboge yellow; the forehead, from 

 above the eyes, with the sides of the head, pale brick red; body generally, with 

 tail, green, with a yellowish tinge beneath. Outer webs of primaries bluish 

 green, yellow at base; secondary coverts edged with yellowish; edge of wing 

 yellow, tinged with red; tibia yellow; bill white; legs flesh color. Young: 

 With head and neck green. Female: With head and neck green; the forehead, 

 lores and suffusion round the eyes dark red, and without the yellow of tibia 

 and edge of wing; size considerably less." 



Stretch of 

 Length. <wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 13.50 22.75 7.70 7.00 .75 1.05 



Female... 12.50 21.00 7.25 6.50 .70 1.00 



Iris brown; bill white; legs and feet flesh color; claws bluish. 



In the early settlement of the country, especially throughout 

 their southern range, the birds were very abundant, but the 

 demand has been so great for their gaudy feathers, with which 

 to decorate the hats of the fair sex, as to stimulate the merci- 

 less hunter to slaughter; and they are now only to be looked 

 for in diminished numbers within the unsettled timbered regions 

 of the Indian Territory, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida. 



The birds are very social in their habits, moving about in 

 flocks, and keeping near each other while on the wing or feeding, 

 as well as when at rest. Their manner of flight is graceful and 

 swift. Their notes loud, harsh and grating upon the ear, and, as 

 they cannot be taught to talk, they are not desirable pets. They 

 have to be kept in close confinement, for if given the liberty of 

 the room, they will injure the furniture and fixtures, by biting 

 and marring the same with their thick, powerful bills. 



They feed indiscriminately upon berries, fruits, seeds and 

 grains, with the exception of corn. I make this exception be- 

 cause I never saw the birds feeding upon corn, and those that 

 I have kept in confinement would not, even when pressed with 

 hunger, notice the same. Pecan nuts and cockle burs appear 

 to be their favorite food; and it is surprising with what ease 



