gg NORTH AMEIUCAN BIRDS. 



riiinp (which is tincrccl with purplish), arc vcrmihon-rcd. Edges of chin, loral region, 

 greater wiiijf-uovurls, imicr tertiary, aiul iiitersca[)iilar region, };ieen ; tlio luidillo of the 

 latter glossed with yellow. Tail-I'eathert!, lesser wiiig-eovertvS, and outer webs of quills, 

 liurplish-l)lue. Length, about 5.50 iiiehes ; wing, "J. 70. 



Friualc. Clear dark green above ; yellowish beneath. Yoiiinj, like female. 



IIaii. South Atlantic and Gulf States to the Pecos River, Texas ; south into Middle 

 America to Panama; S. Illinois (Hihowav); Honduras (Sei,. 1858, 358); Oa.xaea (Sci,. 

 185!), 370); ("ordova (Sci.. IS'iVi, 304) ; (iuatemala (ScL. Ibis, I, 17); Honduras (Sci.. II, 

 10); Cuba (Cam. J. IV, 8); Veragua (Sai.v. 1807, 14'J) ; Costa Pica (Lawk. IX, 102); 

 Vera Cruz, winter (Sl'.m. M. li. S. I, 5512); Yucatan (Lawh. IX, 200). 



Tail veiy sli.iflitly eniiiri^inatod ami rounded ; second, tliird, and fourth 

 {[\u\h equal; iir.'it rather shorter than the lilth. 



Tho female is readily distinguishable from that of 0. ci/anai by the green 

 instead of dull brown of the back, and (he yellow of the under jtarLs. 



Specimens of tiiis species from all parts of its range api)ear to be quite 

 identical. 



Habit.s. Tlie Xonpareil or Painted P>unting of the Southern and South- 

 eastern States has a somewhat restricted distribution, not being found any 

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

 and probalily 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, liy Lieutenant Couch, and in winter by Mr. Boucard, at Plaza Vi- 

 cente, Oaxaca. 



Mr. Dresser found it very common l)otli at Matamoras and at San Anto- 

 nio, breeding in both i)laces. Dr. Coues did not meet with it in Columbia, 

 S. C., and considers it as conKned to the low country, and as i;- ■ even there. 

 It breeils al)out the city of Charleston, S. C., from which neighborhood I 

 have received its eggs in considerable numbers, from Dr. Pachman. It is 

 also found in the lower counties of Cleorgia, und breeds in the \icinity of 

 Savaimah. It was not met with by Dr. (Jerhardt in the northern ]»ortion 

 of that State. Dr. Woodiiouse found it quite abundant in all parts of 

 Texas, where he tells us tla; sweet warblings of this beautiful and active 

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

 favorite places of resort a])])eared to lie small thickets, and when singing it 

 selected the highest branches of a bush. 



In the Report on the birds of the ^lexican Bouuflary Survey, Lieutenant 

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

 Pes(pieria (Irande. Mr. J. IT. Clark observed that the individuals of this 

 species diminisJKnl as they proceeded Avi'stward. The male was almost al- 

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

 adds, were built of veiy line gra.ss, in low bushes, and resting in the crotch 

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

 so gentle tis to allow themselves to be taken olf the nest, which was deliber- 

 ately done on more than one occasion. 



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



