234 PAINTED BUNTING. 
PAINTED BUNTING.—EMBERIZA CIRIS.— Fic. 110, Matz; 
Fie. 111, Fremarz. 
P 
Linn. Syst. 313.— Painted Finch, Catesb. i. 44.— Edw. 130, 173.— Arct. Zool. 
, 362, No. 226.— Le Verdier de la Louisiane, dit vulgairement le Pape, Briss. 
iii. 200, App. 74. — Buff. iv. 76, Pl. enl. 159.— Lath. ii. 206.— Linaria ciris, 
The Painted Finch, or Nonpareil, Bartram, p. 291. — Peale’s Museum, No. 6062 
and 6063. 
: SPIZA CIRIS.— Bonaparte.* 
Fringilla (sub-genus Spiza) ciris, Bonap. Synop. p. 107. —La pesserine nonpareil 
ou le papa, Passerina~ciris, Vieill. Gall. des Ois. pl. 66.—'The Painted Finch, 
Aud. pl. 53, male and female; Orn. Biog. i. 279. 
Tus is one of the most numerous of the ‘little summer birds of 
Lower Louisiana, where it is universally known among the French in- 
habitants, and called by them Le Pape, and by the Americans The 
Nonpareil. Its gay dress and docility of manners have procured it 
many admirers; for these qualities are strongly attractive, and carry 
their own recommendations always along with them. The low coun- 
tries of the Southern States, in the vicinity of the sea, and along the 
borders of our large rivers, particularly among the rice plantations, are 
the favorite haunts of this elegant little bird. A few are seen in North 
Carolina; in South Carolina they are more numerous, and still more 
so in the lower parts of Georgia. To the westward, I first met them 
at Natchez, on the Mississippi, where they seemed rather scarce. 
Below Baton Rouge, along the Levee, or embankment of the river, they 
appeared in great numbers; and continued to become more common 
as I approached New Orleans, where they were warbling from almost 
every fence, and crossing the road before me every few minutes. 
Their notes very much resemble those of the Indigo Bird, (Fig. 23,) 
but want the strength and energy of the latter, being more feeble and 
more concise. 
* From the general request of this species as a pet, it is requisite that considerable 
numbers should be taken, and the method used is thus described by Audubon. 1 
may remark, in the taking of various birds alive, “call birds,” or tame ones, 
trained for the purpose of decoy, are commonly used in all countries, and in baad 
instances, a stuffed specimen, or even a representation made of Paris plaster, is 
used with success. : ; 
“ A male bird, in full plumage, is shot, and stuffed in a defensive attitude, and 
perched among some grass seed, rice, or other food, on the same platform as the 
trap-cage. This is taken to the fields, or near the orangeries, and placed in so open 
a situation, that it would be difficult for a living bird of any species to fly over it 
without observing it. The trap is set. A male Painted Finch passes, perceives it, 
and dives towards the stuffed bird, brings down the trap, and is made prisoner. 
In this manner, thousands of these birds are caught every spring; and so pertina- 
cious are they in their attacks, that, even when the trap has closed upon them, they 
continue pecking at the féathers of the supposed rival.” 
_ They feed immediately, and some have been kept in confinement for ten years. 
They cost about sixpence in New Orleans; but, in London, three guineas are 
sometimes asked. ; 
The various generic nomenclat ire to which this bird has been subjected, shows 
that ornithologists are at variance in opinion. It forms part of the first section of 
Bonaparte’s sub-genus Spiza, to which should also be referred the Fringilla Cya- 
nea, (Fig. 23.) — Ep. 
