INDIGO BIRD. qq 



quantity of Indian-corn, and attach itself so closely to it, is 

 rather apocryphal. The same writer, vol. ii. p. 24, relates 

 similar particulars of the cardinal grosbeak (Loxia cardinalis), 

 which, though it winters in Pennsylvania, where the climate 

 is much more severe, and where the length and rigours of that 

 season would require a far larger magazine, and be a threefold 

 greater stimulus to hoarding, yet has no such habit here. 

 Besides, I have never found a single grain of Indian-corn in 

 the stomach of the summer red bird, though I have examined 

 many individuals of both sexes. On the whole, I consider this 

 account of Du Pratz's in much the same light with that of 

 his countryman, Charlevoix, who gravely informs us, that the 

 owls of Canada lay up a store of live mice for winter ; the legs 

 of which they first break, to prevent them from running away, 

 and then feed them carefully, and fatten them, till wanted 

 for use.* 



Its manners — though neither its bill nor tongue — partake 

 very much of those of the flycatcher ; for I have frequently 

 observed both male and female, a little before sunset, in parts 

 of the forest clear of underwood, darting after winged insects? 

 and continuing thus engaged till it was almost dusk. 



INDIGO BIED. {Fringilla cyanea.) 



PLATE VI— Fig. 5. 



Tanagra cyanea, Linn. St/st. i. 315. — Le Ministre, Buff. iv. 86. — Indigo Bunting, 

 Arct. Zool. ii. No. 235.— Lath. Synop. iii. 205, 63.— Blue Linnet, Edw. 273.— 

 Peale's Museum, No. 6002. — Linaria cyanea, Bart. p. 290. 



FRINGILLA CYANEA— Wilson. 



Fringilla cyanea, Bonap. Synop. f p. .107. 



This is another of those rich plumaged tribes that visit us in 

 spring from the regions of the south. It arrives in Pennsyl- 



* Travels in Canada, vol. i. p. 239, Lond. 1761, 8vo. 

 t By a letter from my friend Mr Swainson, I am informed that the 

 Prince of Musignano intends to form a genus of this bird ; I have there- 



