70 N'ORTII AMEIUCAX nriJDs. 



Dr. Hecnnanii sjioaks of tlio sonj]; of tliis liird as eloar and musical, and as 

 very closely vost'iiihling tliat of our Tunhm mif/nttoriia. lie di'scribes its 

 nests as formed witli very little care, of twijfs loosely thrown tonc^tlier, and 

 lined with roots, jilaced in tlie limnchos of bushes. The eji;^s, ibur in num- 

 l)er, lie desci'ilies as of a <,rreenish-l)hie <iround, marisod witii irre.^ular spots 

 of unilua'-brown, varying in intensity of shade. 



The song of tiie western species is described by Mr. Nuttall as fully equal, 

 if not suporioi', to tliat of the Ifose-brcasted. He met witii it on the central 

 table-lands of the I'ocky Mountains, along the upjter brandies of tlie Colo- 

 rado Iliver, where he found it frenuciiting the thicl< groves of tiie streams, 

 and where, throughout its d(uise forests, the jiowerful song and tlie inimitable 

 voice of this "most deliglitful Finch" cheered that naturalist amidst tlie 

 wildest desolation of tliat " forest ]irimeval," where this sujierb vocalist made 

 the Wdods echo and re-eclio tu its untiring song. These notes, greatly resem- 

 bling those of its eastern relative, may be lieard from early dawn almost 

 even to the close of the following night. These are described as loud, varied, 

 high toned, and melodious, rising and falling with the sweetest cadence, fas- 

 cinating the listener most ]iowerfully with .sensations of a pleasing sadness, 

 its closing note seeming like a shrill cry of apjiealing distress, and then sink- 

 ing faintly on Liie ear. It is descril)ed as very shy and retiring in its lialiits, 

 and can be Imt very rarely observed closely while thus engaged in song. 

 On these occasions the bird is .said to sit up conspicuou.sly on a lofty bough, 

 near the summit of the tree, his tliroat swelling with the excitement, and 

 seeming to take a great delight in the .sound of his own music. 



Mr. Sumichra.st finiiid this bird on the I'lateau of Mexico, and also in the 

 al]'ine regions of A'era Cruz. It was i'ound to the heiglit of 8,!](I0 feet, and 

 never lower than 4,()(MI. 



The eggs of this species are of an oblong-oval shape, one end but slightly 

 more rounded than the other, and measure I.IO of an inch in length by .tio 

 in breadth. They have a bluish-green ground, blotched and spla.shed with 

 markings of a rusty-brown, for the most part more numerous about the 

 larger end. 



(iR.MS GUIRACA, .SW.MNSOX. 



Guirdcn, Swainsun, Zniil. .loiir. HI, Nov. IsJ", '(."ii'. ('rv|H', Ln.ria cirrnha, \,.) 

 Ciimiliiiriis, SwAlNMiN, Class, liiids, II, 1S:!7, 'J77. (.Siiiiic typi'.) 



(!i:\. CiiAi;. bill very lai'^ri'. lu'arly a.s liii:h iis loiii:': llic ciiliiicii sliirlilly riirvi'il, willi a 

 ratliiT sliai-|i liiluc; the (•()iiiiiiissur<' fciii^piriiniisly aiiirulalcil Ju>l liclowlhi' iinsli'il, the 

 l«isli'i'i(ii' \f'T; of the aii<f|c' iica;ly as loui: as llic antciiDr, liDtli nearly sti'aii;lil. bower Jaw 

 (Ici'pci- tliaii the iippi'i-, and rNlfnilin^r nnicli lifliiml the liirclicad; llie width "rrealer than 

 the h'nL'lli "f tlic j^onys. I'lmsiilcralily widci' llian llir npprr Jaw. .\ pi'diiiincnl knob in 

 llii' niiif of the niiiMlh. Tarsi .sluirlcr than ihi- niiddlc toe ; (lie outer luc a lilllc lonjri'r, 

 ri'aciiiiifr not rphtc to tlu^ hasc of the middle claw ; hind toe rather lonirer than to this 

 liase. WinL'S loni;, reaching'' the middle of tlie tail; the .seeondaries and tertials nearly 



