PERCHING BIRDS 
breast being browish and the rest of the under- 
parts, white. It is the western representative 
of the Indigo Bunting, and its 
habits and nesting habits are 
in all respects the same as 
those of that species, the 
nests being made of twigs, 
grasses, strips of bark, weeds, 
leaves, etc. The eggs are like 
Pale bluish those of the last, pale bluish 
white white., Size .75 x .55. 
h'00. Varied Bunting. Passerina 
versicolor 
Range. — Mexico and north to southern Texas. 
The general color of this odd bird is purp- 
lish, changing to bright blue on the crown and 
rump, and with a reddish 
nape. They are quite abun- 
dant in some localities along 
the Lower Rio Grande, where 
they nest in bushes and tan- 
gled under brush, the nests being like those of the last 
species, and rarely above five feet from the ground. The eggs 
are pale bluish white, three or four in number, and laid dur- 
ing May or June. Size .75 x .55. 
Pale bluish 
white 
Lazuli Bunting 
fiOOa. Beautiful Bunting. Passerina versicolor pulchra. 
Range. — Southern Lower California. 
Slightly smaller but very similar to the last; eggs will not differ. 
601 . Painted Bunting. Passerina ciris. 
Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf States; north to Illinois in the interior. 
Without exception, this is the most gaud- 
ily attired of North American birds, the 
whole underparts being red, the head and 
neck deep blue, the back yellowish green, and 
the rump purple, the line of demarcation be- 
tween the colors being sharp. They are fre- 
quently kept as cage birds but more for their 
bright colors than any musical ability, their 
song being of the character of the Indigo Bunt- 
ing, but weaker and less musical. They are 
very abundant in the South Atlantic and Gulf 
States, where they nest usual- 
ly in bushes or hedges at low 
elevations, but occasionally 
on branches of tall trees. 
Their nests are made of 
weeds, shreds of bark, 
grasses, etc., lined with fine 
grass, very much resembling W1 
that of the Indigo. Their 
eggs are laid in May, June or July, they fre- 
quently raising two broods; they are white or 
pale bluish white, speckled with reddish 
brown. Size .75 x ,55. 
367 
Varied Bunting 
