EUSPIZA AMERICANA, BLACK-THEOATED BUNTING. 165 



Frinflilla americana, Bp., Syn. 1828, 107. 



Ccelebs americana, Less., Tr. Orn. 1831, 440. 



Euspiza ammicana, Bp., List, 1838, 3-2 : Consp. i, li^oO, 4j9.— AYoodh., Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 

 87 (Indian Territorv, Texas, Ne%v Mexicci).— Bd., B. N. A. ISr-S, 494.— Wheat., 

 Ohio Agrio. Rep. 18fi0 (plentiful).— Lawr.. Ann. Lvc. vii, 1861, 296 (New- 

 Granada).— CouES & Pkent., Smiths. Rep. 1861. (1862) 413 (Washingt(»i, 

 D. C, May to Sept., abundant).— H,vtd., Rep. 18C2, 168.— Allen, Pr. Ess. 

 Inst, iv, 1864, 84 (Massachusetts, rare, or occasional).— CO0BS, Pr. Ess. Inst. 

 V, 1868, '284 (northeast to Massachusetts).— L,\WB., Ann. Lye. vii, 1861, 293 

 (Panama); 186.5, 181 (Nicaragua); viii, 1868, 286 (Neu- York); ix, 1868, 103 

 (Costa Rica). — Codes, Pr. Boat. Soc. xii, 18i)8 (South Carolina in summer, /(Ze 

 Gibhes). — AI.LEN, Mem. Bost. Soc. i, 1868, 505 (Western Iowa, very abundant, 

 hreeding), and 517 (Northern Illinois, conimou).— TriiXB., B. E. Pa. 1869. 24 

 (May to Sept., plentiful.)— Dress., Ibis, 1865, 490 (Texas).— .Salv., P. Z. S. 

 1867', 142 (Veragua).— Cass., Pr. Phila. Acad. 1860, 140 (Turbo).— Sumicii.. 

 Mem. Bost. Soc. i, 1869, 552 (^ era Cruz, wintering).— Sol. & Salv., Ibis, i, 

 1859, 18 (Gautemala).— Mav.n., Guide, 1870, 120 (Massachusetts, three instan- 

 ces noted).— Allex, Bull. JI. C. Z. iii, 1872, 177 (Kansas and Colorado). — 

 Tkippb, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872, 238 (Iowa, breeding).— CouES. Kev, 1872, 148.— 

 Skow, B. Kans. 1873, 7.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 65, pi. 28, f. 11, 12. 

 • Miispina americana, Cab., Mas. Hein. i, 1851, 133. 



Fringilla flaricollis, Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 926. 



Fririgilla'inexicana, Muller, Syst. Nat. Siippl. 165. 



Fmieriza mexicana, Gm., S. Nat. i, 1788, 873.— Lath., Ind. Orn. i, 1790, 412. (P. E. 386, 1.) 



Fasserina nigricoUis, Viell^., Enc. Meth. 931. 



Sal). — United States, west to Kansas and Nebraska, and even Colorado. North to 

 Connecticut regularly (LiNSL., Am. Journ. Sci. 1843, 261), to Massachusetts occasionally ; 

 no record beyond. No record of wintering in the United States. Winters iu Mexico 

 and Central America, and New Granada (numerous quotations). 



Lieutenant Warren's ExpecUtion.—^^^l, 9286, Fort Lookout ; 9261. 9265, 9258, 9263, 

 9260, 9254, 9248, 9270, 9269, Loup Fork of the Platte; 9253, 9262, 9264, 9249, Elbhorn 

 River ; 9257, Fremont, on Platte. 



Not obtained by Captain Raynolds' Expedition, or by the later ones. 



From its winter abode iu tropical America, the Black-throated Bunt- 

 ing enters the United States in April, in small troops. Vast numbers 

 pass up the Mississippi Valley, some finding their final resting place in 

 Iowa, but others lingering to breed all along the route. 3Iany spread 

 westward over the prairies of Kansas and Nebraska, and a part of the 

 host reaches the Middle Atlantic States- by the latter part of the month, 

 some even penetrating eastward to Southern ^STew England, which 

 forms their terminus. Eearing their yoaug in nearly all parts of this 

 great extent of land, from Texas to Nebraska, and 2sew England, they 

 depart before the approach of cold weather to their homes far south. 



Making no claim to the brilliancy of coloration that many of its 

 spizine allies possess, this Bunting is nevertheless a handsome bird, 

 with tasteful color contrasts, a trim form, and a peculiarly smooth, neat 

 plumage. As a vocalist, however, we must rate it a very humble per- 

 former ; its song is short and simple, even weak, and grows monotonous 

 with repetition through the season of incubation, when the male, from 

 the highest perch he can find near his nest, cheers his faithful mate 

 with the assurance of his presence and protection. He seems to say, 

 " Look ! look ! see me here ! see ! " And if we do not like his perform- 

 ance, we may remember we are not asked to listen. 



The nest of this species is alra'^st invariably placed on the ground, 

 but occasionally iu a thick grass-clump, over a foot high. The eggs are 

 four or five in number, of precisely the same pale blue shade as in the 

 last species, being thus exactly like Bluebird eggs. They are said to 

 be sometimes dotted, and I have no doubt such is the case, though. I 

 have seen none not perfectly plain. The size is 0.80 by 0.65. 



As was remarked by Audubon, the Black-throated Bunting appears 

 to avoid certain districts, both in its migrations and for breeding, giv- 

 ing preference to fertile portions of the country, and in settling down to 



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