PAINTED BUNTING. 223 



ground or in green foliage, but it is no easy matter to see one among the flowers of 

 the trumpet-vine where they often seek refuge, apparently fully conscious of the pro- 

 tection afforded by the clusters of scarlet blossoms. The young males during the first 

 year are colored precisely like the females. They sing, and for aught I know, breed, 

 while in this condition. The song is a low^, pleasing w^arble very un-Finch-like in 

 character. I should compare it to that of the Canada Flycatcher, but the notes are less 

 emphatic, though equally disconnected. • The bird almost invariably sings in the depths 

 of some thicket, and its voice ceases at the slightest noise. Both sexes have a sharp 

 chirp of alarm, which closely resembles that of the Indigo Finch. Most of the Nonpareils 

 left St. Mary's by May 1, but a few^ pairs remained up to the time of my departure, 

 when they were apparently preparing to breed." 



The Nonpareil, in Texas also known under the name of "Mexican Canary" and 

 "Texan Canary," arrives near Houston and in the West Yegua region from its winter- 

 quarters at a time w^hen the deciduous trees and shrubs are in their full spring beauty, 

 ■when many of the resident species and summer sojourners are busily engaged with nest- 

 building, with hatching, or with feeding their young. The first males are usually seen 

 between April 10 and April 15, and the females arrive usually from six to ten days later. 

 About April 25 even the last stragglers have made their appearance and the cheery 

 carol of the Painted Buntings is heard from all sides. Generally at this time the 

 numerous small prairies and even the monotonous post-oak w^oods are covered mth a 

 carpet of richly hued flowers. Innumerable beautiful blossoms cover the sandy soil, 

 mostly in groups or masses, each kind by itself. Dense bushes of coral plants {Brytbriaa 

 herbacea) display their glowing red flowers. Large places are covered with phlox {Phlox 

 Drummondii) of an intensely red hue, and the most sterile sandy spots are transformed 

 into veritable flower gardens, gaillardias, calliopsis, lark-spurs, lupines, and cacti of 

 different species in full flower forming an exquisite adornment of such localities. 



As I had five or six breeding pairs every spring in close proximity of my house in 

 Texas, I had a good opportunity to observe them. Soon after its arrival the Painted 

 Bunting is one of the loudest and most cheery birds, spending its time in playing and 

 frolicking until the females arrive, when the playing turns into courting and fighting. 

 Usually extremely cautious and more frequently heard than seen, it seems to leave every 

 precaution out of sight when the females appear. The male is now^ very quarrelsome 

 and tries to attract the attention of the female in every w^ay. He flies down to the 

 ground, hops about in all kinds of positions, spreading his wings and tail, turning 

 quickly around in a circle, and all the while singing his sweetest notes. This lasts a few 

 days, when the small flocks dissolve and the birds commence to pair. Being now rather 

 shy, they cunningly hide among the blackberry thickets and trees covered by a luxuriant 

 growth of vines or in thorny bushes and Cherokee roses, or even among the dense 

 festoons of Spanish moss. Like many other birds, after they are convinced that man is 

 their friend and protector, the Painted Bunting becomes very confident in some gardens. 

 Without fear it mounts the top of a magnolia, an orange tree, or an ornamental shrub, 

 and even the top of a chimney or lightning rod, singing its cheerful strain. In such 

 places it is easily detected and observed, and highly valued on account of its exquisite 

 beauty, its sprightly song, and its activity. 



