CIANOSPIZA. 361 



CYANOSPIZA. 



Cyanospiza, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 500 (1858) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 81. 

 Passerina, Vieillot, Anal. p. 30 ; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 390. 



This is a genus strictly confined to the United States, Mexico, and Central America, 

 but south of Guatemala only the two migratory species C. cyanea and C. ciris occur. 

 Another migratory species, C. amcena, visits Western Mexico, in which country are two 

 peculiar species and a third, a rare visitant to Guatemala. All these six species are 

 very distinct, more so perhaps than those of any genus of similar extent. 



Cyanospiza is usually placed near Guiraca and Spermophila, but has little in common 

 with those genera. The bill is decidedly weaker and smaller in proportion to the size 

 of the bird. The angle of the tomia is less conspicuous, and the culmen straighter 

 and but slightly curved ; the second, third, and fourth quills are the longest, the first 

 =fifth, the wing being rather rounded, but more so in the resident than in the migra- 

 tory species. The tail is nearly even or slightly emarginate. The feet are moderately 

 strong, the tarsus being about equal to the middle toe and claw. 



The generic name Cyanospiza was proposed by Prof. Baird in place of Spiza of 

 Bonaparte, which that author had himself used previously in a difierent sense. 

 Passerina, Vieillot, has recently been adopted by Dr. Coues. This is not Passerina of 

 Linnaeus, which has been used in Botany. 



1. Cyanospiza versicolor. 



Spiza versicolor, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 120 ^ Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 148'; Sol. P.Z.S. 1857, p. 214'; 

 1859, pp. 365 *, 379' ; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii. Birds, p. 17 ' ; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,^ 

 1859, p. 17'; Duges, La Nat. i. p. 140'; Sumiehrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 551'; 

 Baird, Brew., & Eidgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 86"; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 276";, 

 Sennett, BuU. U. S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 20'"; v. p. 393 "; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 224". 

 Passerina versicolor, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 391 ". 

 Carduelis luamosus. Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 41 '°. 

 Spiza lazulina, Licht. Nomencl. p. 45 (fide Bonaparte "). 



Nigro-purpurea; fronte, capite stinimo et uropygio cyaneis, plumis corporis supra a fronte postica ad dorsum 

 medium et gutture toto sanguineo suffusis, loris nigris ; alis et cauda nigris eztus purpureo limbatis ; rostro 

 comeo, pedibus corylinis. Long, tota 4-3, alee 2-5, caudse 2-1, tarsi 0-65. 

 ? supra brunnea unicolor, alis et cauda fusco-nigris, Ularum tectricibus dorsi colore limbatis ; subtus multo 

 paUidior, gula et abdomiae medio sordide albidis. (Descr. maris et feminse ex Presidio, Mexico. Mus. 

 nostr.) 

 Hah. North Ambeica, Lower California, Texas "> la i3 i5._Mexico i ^ i4 le^ BoquUlo in 

 Nuevo Leon {Couch % Tepic (Grayson ^^), Mazatlan (Grayson ^\ Forrer), Presidio 

 (Forrer), Cueramaro (Duges % Temiscaltepec \ Orizaba (Sumiehrast ^ Botteri % 

 Jalapa (de Om^), Oaxaca (Boucard^); Guatemala (Skinner'', Van Patten^%— 

 Peku]^ 

 Though found close up to the Texan frontier of the United States, the only claim 

 BIOL. CBNTB.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., April 1886. 46 



