96 INDIGO BUNTING. 



group of these birds, is found growing abundantly in the country where the 

 birds occur. It is a small shrub, the fruit of which is yellow when ripe, and 

 excellent eating. 



From Texas to North Carolina, and up the Mississippi to Natchez. 

 Abundant. Migratory. 



Painted Bunting, Emberiza Ciris, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 68. 



Fringilla Ciris, Bonap. Syn., p. 107. 



Painted Bunting, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 477. 



Painted Finch, Fringilla Ciris, Aud. Orn. Bio°\, vol. i. p. 279; vol. v. p. 517. 



Adult Male, in full plumage. 



Bill short, robust, conical, somewhat bulging, straight, acute; upper man- 

 dible broader, slightly declinate at the tip; gap-line a little declinate at the 

 base. Nostrils basal, roundish, partly concealed by the frontal feathers. 

 Head and neck rather large. Body full. Feet of moderate length; tarsus a 

 little longer than the middle toe; toes free, the lateral ones nearly equal; 

 claws compressed, arched, acute. 



Plumage blended, tufty, somewhat compact on the head and back. Wings 

 of ordinary length, the third quill longest. Tail shortish, even, of twelve 

 rounded feathers. 



INDIGO BUNTING. 



-\-Spiza cyanea, Wils. 



PLATE CLXX.— Male, Female, and Young. 



The species here presented for inspection is best known to the Creoles of 

 Louisiana by the name of Petit Papebleu. This is in accordance with the 

 general practice of the first settlers of that State, who named all the Finches, 

 Buntings, and Orioles, Papes; and all the Warblers and Fly-catchers, 

 Grassets. They made an exception, however, in favour of the Rice-bird, 

 which they honoured with the name of Ortolan, an appellation given in the 

 Island of St. Domingo to the Ground Dove, which, however, is seldom seen 

 near New Orleans. 



