80 NORTH AMERICAN BtltUS. 



on tlie mouiitiiiii-.sides. It is imt incntionod by Siiniiclirast as a hird of Vera 

 ("niz, bwt was luuiid during tlu! winter months at Uaxaca, JNIexieo, by Mr. 

 lioiicard. 



Mr. O. Salvin states (Ibis, Til. j). 'M'>'2) that lie found this species, though 

 not of very conunoii oeourrenee, pretty generally distributed, in winter, 

 throughout Vera Paz. lie met with it on the I'lains of Salania, and all the 

 colle(!tions from the warmer distriets to tiio nortiiward of Coban contained 

 S|)ecimens. It was found by Mr. tJeorge H. AVhite near Me.\ico. 



^Vilson .si)eaks of this bird as retired and solitary, and also as a scarce 

 s])ecies, and as having Imt few notes, its most common one being a loud 

 vhucl: lie was, however, aware tiiat at times they have a few low sweet- 

 toned notes. He mentions their being ke\)i in Charleston in cages, but as 

 seldom singing in confinement. He fed a caged bird of tiiis sjjccies on Indian 

 corn, whii'li it easily bnjke with its jiowerful bill; also on hemp-seed, millet, 

 and l)erries. He speaks of them as timid, watchful, silent, and active. 



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

 liarities of tliis species. His accounts of the eggs of the Pi/ndii/a a'stiva 

 are entirely inapjilicable to tiiat species, and, s(j far as I know, apply to no 

 other bird than 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 the nest ap]iear to be correct. 



Dr. Ijachnuin kept several of these birds in an aviary ; two of the.se mated, 

 took ])Ossession of the nest of a Cardinal (irosbeak, which they drove olf, 

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

 birds were silent. !Mr. Audubon kept one, in confinement, with him in Edin- 

 lair,i,di. It had been raised from the nest. This bird freciuently sang in the 

 night, and before dawn. It was extremely tame, coming out or going into 

 its cage at pleasure, perching on the head-dress of Airs. Aiulubon, or on the 

 heads of other nu>mbcrs of the family, alighting on the table and feeding on 

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

 table he would go to it, take it uj) in his bill, and iij)])arently toss it about 

 with pleasure. After l)athiiig he would go to the fire and perch on the fender 

 to dry himself He would attack otlier birds, if ]mt i'>.to the cage with him. 

 In feeding he sometimes held his food in his claws like a Hawk. 



The eggs of tliis bird are of a uniform light-blue color, and most resemble 

 those (jf the Sudia ari'tica, but are larger and of a lighter (!olor. Their color 

 is (juite fugitive, and readily fades into a dull white uiion even a slight ex- 

 posure to light. They are of an oval shape, e(|ually rouniled at either end, 

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



