T 54



were offered For sale by Mr. W. Swaysland, of Brighton, and I

became the owner of one of them ; this year he has received a

few more. These are the only specimens that I have ever met

with. There has been one specimen at the Zoological Gardens

in Regent’s Park. This bird is found throughout Central

America and South America to Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia,

specimens from different localities differ considerably in plumage.


Dr. Bowdler Sharpe remarks that this bird is probably a

Bunting. To me it seems very unlike a Bunting, for it will eat

nothing but seed, while all the Buntings are passionately fond of

insedts.


It appears to be absolutely without song.


Until a few days ago I should have described this as a

most peaceable and inoffensive bird, but my specimen has lately

taken to chasing some of the other birds in the aviary, so I fear

that I may have been somewhat hasty in giving him a good

character.


The Thick-billed Cardinal fPyrrhuloxia sinuata).


This is an extremely rare bird in captivity. One was

exhibited at the last Crystal Palace Show, and that is the

only specimen that I have seen. Indeed, I can scarcely say

that I saw that bird, for it was in a box cage, and the


light inside the Bird Show tent at the Palace is by no means

good. The impression on my mind after my very imperfect

sight of the bird is that, in colouring, it much resembled the

female Virginian Cardinal. For a detailed description of the

plumage I must refer my readers to the British Museum


Catalogue. There also they will find a drawing of the head


of this species which they can compare with the drawing

of the head of Cardinalis cardinalis : they will then see how

greatly the beak differs in shape from that of the Virginian

Cardinal, both mandibles being strongly curved, especially the

upper. The beak is much like that of some of the little

Spermophilce.


I know nothing of the habits or character of the species.


Its range is described as being from the “ Southern border

of the United States, from the valle} r of the Rio Grande west¬

ward and southward into Mexico.”



{To be continued').



