FINCHES, SPARROWS 



(594a) Pyrrhuloxia sinuata 



texana [Bonap.) (Lat., a bullfinch, a 

 crossbill; bent or bowed). 



TEXAS PYRRHULOXIA. Bill 

 very short, stout and convex. Crest 

 rather scanty. Ad. a' — Plumage as 

 shown by the nearer bird ; general tone 

 grayish; face, throat and middle of 

 breast bright rosy-red; crest, wings, 

 and tail dull red. Ad. 'i — As shown 

 by the bird in the background. Only 

 traces of red on the face and throat; 

 crest, wings and tail, reddish, but 

 duller than on the male. L., 8.25; 

 W., 3.7s; T., 4.00. Nesl — A shabby 

 platform of twigs and grasses, at a low 

 elevation in bushes or thickets; three 

 or four whitish eggs, specked with 

 dark brown. 



Range — From central Tex. south- 

 ward. 



have commenced to appear. Most of the nests are rather 

 slovenly constructed, being made chiefly of weeds and leaf 

 stalks on the outside, then a layer of dead leaves and finally 

 a lining of grasses or strips of bark. They are so insecurel}^ 

 fastened to their supporting branches that they frequently 

 upset. I have found many of their nests, but never have 

 noticed the birds showing the distress so commonly shown 

 by almost all species when their homes are discovered. Some 

 even left the vicinity without even uttering their familiar 

 sharp "tsip. " 



The song of the Cardinal is loud, clear and not displeasing, 

 but, I believe, has been greatly overestimated. It shows 

 little of the melodious and tuneful character of that of the 

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Among the most commonly heard 

 songs is one composed of about si.x notes with a hoUow or 

 thumping quality, a "wee-00, wheu, when, when, when, 

 wheu, " and another more musical and more rapidly delivered 

 sounding like "whirly, whirly, whirly, whirly." 



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