410 FOREIGN BIRDS. 



Then give me not, I ask not, 

 A gay or gaudy life ; 



I wish not, I seek not, 



The haunts of noisy strife.* ( 66 ) 



( 66 ) Order, Passeres, (Linn.) Tanager the Black and 

 Blue, the Red-breasted, the Golden. 



The genus Tanagra, (Linn.) or Tanager, consists of more 

 than sixty species, nearly all found in the West Indies and 

 America. They have been considered as similar to the sparrows 

 of Europe, to which they approach in almost every particular, 

 except colour and the small grooves hollowed out at the sides 

 of the upper mandible, towards the point. They are also, like 

 the sparrows, gregarious; but lay only two eggs at a brood. 

 They, however, as well as most birds in warm climates, breed 

 very often. The following are deserving notice : — 



The Mexicana, or BLACK-and-BLUE Tanager, is black 

 beneath yellowish; breast and rump blue. Another variety, 

 with tail coverts green, body beneath white ; five inches long ; 

 sings very finely; inhabits South America. 



The Jacapa, or Red-breasted Tanager, is black ; front, 

 throat, and breast scarlet; female purplish brown, beneath 

 reddish, wings and tail brown ; six and a half inches long; builds 

 a pendulous, cylindrical, and somewhat-curved nest ; feeds on 

 fruit; eggs white, with reddish spots. Inhabits South America. 



The Violacea, or Golden Tanager, is violet; beneatii and 

 hind head fine yellow ; another variety black instead of violet ; 

 female olive brown ; young bird blue olive ; three and a half 

 inches long ; variable in its colours ; very destructive to rice 

 plantations. Inhabits Brazil and Cayenne. 



* This song has been set to music by my friend, W. Jacob, 

 Esq. It will, most probably, be published in a separate form. 



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