( 377 ) 



THE INDIGO BIRD. 



Fringilla cyanea, Wils. 



PLATE LXXIV. Male, Female, and YouMG. 



The species here presented for inspection is best known to the Cre- 

 oles of Louisiana by the name of Petit Papebleu. This is in accordance 

 with the general practice of the first settlers of that State, who named all 

 the Finches, Buntings, and Orioles, Papes ; and all the Warblers and 

 Fly-catchers, Grassels. They made an exception, however, in favour of 

 the Rice Bird, which they honoured with the name of Ortolan, an appel- 

 lation given in the Island of St Domingo to the Ground Dove, which, 

 however, is seldom seen near New Orleans. 



The Indigo Bird arrives in the Southern States from the direction of 

 Mexico, along with its relative the Painted Finch, and is caught in trap- 

 cages, but with more difficulty than the latter bird. It spreads far and 

 wide over the United States, extending from the borders of our Atlantic 

 shores to those of our great lakes. It is not a forest bird, bvit prefers the 

 skirts of the woods, the little detached thickets in and along the fields, 

 the meadows, the gardens, and orchards, and is frequently seen hopping 

 along, or perched on a fence, from which it does not disdain to send forth 

 its pretty little song. The highest top of a detached tree is, however, 

 preferred for this purpose, and the Indigo Bird is to be observed perched 

 on this pinnacle, singing at short intervals for half an hour at a time. Its 

 song is at first loud and clear, falhng in cadences to a very low key. The 

 whole consists of eight or ten notes. The bird now and then launches 

 into the air, to cross a field, and sings until it has espied a favourite spot 

 amongst the clover, when it immediately becomes silent and dives to the 

 ground. The whole of this parade is performed by the male, which is 

 alone to be seen, the female at this season keeping amongst the grass or 

 the briars along the fields, where her humble plumage hides her in a great 

 measure from observation. Some persons have thought that this practice 

 was changed towards the latter part of summer, when, by a casual obser- 

 ver, only the females are to be seen. The true reason of this, however, is, 

 that the young birds of both sexes resemble the mother during the first 

 season. 



