300 ZOOLOGY— BIRDS. 



CYANOSPIZA AMOENA (Say). 



Iiazuli Finch. 



Embcriza amocna, Say, Long's Exped. Rocky Mts., i, 1S23, 47. 



Spi-a amcena, Woodh., Sitgreave's Exp. Zuui & Col. Riv., 1854, 87.— IIeerm., P. R, 

 R. Rep., x, pt. iv, 1850, 46. 



Cyanospiza ammna, Bd., Birds N. A., 1858, 504. — Xantus, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila , 

 1850, 192 (Fort Tejon, Cal.).— Henry, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., 1850, 

 107 (New Mexico).— Coop. & Suckl., P. R, R. Rep., xii, pt. ii, 18C0, 205.— 

 IIayd., Trans. Am. Phil. Soc, xii, 1S62, 1GS. — Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Phila., 1866, 80 (Fort Whipple, Ariz.).— Cooper, Birds Cal., i, 1871, 233— 

 Coues, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 140.— Snow, Birds Kan., 1872, 11.— Hold., 

 Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1872, 201.— Merriam, U. S. Geol. Snrv. Terr., 

 1872, 683.— Bu., Brew., & Ridg., N. A. Birds, ii, 1874, pi. xxx, rigs. 11, 12— 

 Yarrow, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1S71, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 35. — Yarrow & 

 Henshaw, Rep. Oru. Specs., 1S72, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 15— Henshaw, 

 An. Lye, Nat. Hist. N. Y., xi, 1874, 6.— Id., An. List Birds Utah, 1872, 

 Wheeler's Exped., 1S74, 45.— Id., Rep. Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 

 1874, 63,81, 120.— Allen, Proc, Bost, Soc. Nat. Hist., June, 1S74, 15, 29— 

 Coues, Birds Northwest, 1874, 170. 



Very common throughout the Territory of Utah, inhabiting the dense 

 thickets near water courses. A number of nests were found at Provo in 

 the latter part of July, containing either young, or eggs just ready to hatch. 

 The bird was seen also in Nevada. These nests, were all built upon low 

 thorny bushes, and both nests and eggs resemble those of C. cyanea. 



Not seen at all about Fort Garland ; the elevation perhaps being too 

 great for it. Common on the Huerfano River, sixty miles northeast of Fort 

 Garland, and also near Pueblo, where it was taken by Mr. Aiken. It inhabits 

 the lowlands generally, and, like the Indigo Bird, is fond of neighborhoods 

 sparsely covered with low bushes. Its habits generally are much like those 

 of the Indigo Bird; a resemblance borne out by the similarity of songs, 

 though that of this finch is weaker and not so well sustained, while those 

 strains are less melodious. Its diffusion in Arizona and New Mexico is 

 equally general. 



In a male taken in October, the blue is clouded and almost obscured 

 by rufous, which overspreads the whole plumage. 



