236 
FRINGILLA CYANEA. 
particularly subject to chanjres of colour, both pro^es- 
sively, during the first and second seasons ; and als* 
periodically, afterwards. Some of those that inhabit 
Pennsylvania change from an olive green to a greeni®® 
yellow; and, lastly, to a brilliant scarlet ; andlconfc®^ 
when the preserved specimen of the present spefi** 
was first shewn me, I suspected it to have been passing 
through a similar change at tlie time it was take#' 
But,^ having examined two more skins of the sain^ 
species, and finding them all marked very nearly alik®i 
which is seldom the case with those birds that chan?^ 
while moulting, I began to think that this might be i*^ 
permanent, or, at least, its summer or winter drc®^ 
The little information I have been able to procure 
the species generally, or at what particular season tbe®^ 
were shot, prevents me from being able to determi'’® 
this matter to my wish. 
I can only learn, that they inhabit the exteiisii'* 
plains or prairies of the Missouri, between the Os*?® 
and Maudan nations ; building their nests in low busbe®* 
and often among the grass. With us the 
usually build on the branches of a hickory or white 
sapling. These birds delight in various kinds of berri«*b 
With which those rich prairies are said to abound. 
GENUS XX.XIII — FSINGILLA, Lisn,eu3. 
S17BGENUS I. — SnZJf BONAPARTE. 
158 . FRIXaiLLA cyj?fEJ, WILSON. — INDIGO BIRD. 
WILSON, PLATE VI. FIG. V. 
This is another of those rich plumaged tribes 
visit us in spring from the regions of the south. ' 
arrives in Pennsylvania on the second week in N*.,' 
and disappears about the middle of September. I* ’i 
numerous in all the settled parts of the middle a"® 
eastern States ; in the Carolinas and Geom'ia it is w* i 
abundant. Though Catesby says that it is only b’”'' f 
at a great distance from the se.a, yet round the clt.V a 
New York, and in many places along the shores of i 
Jersey, I have met with them in plenty. I may also 
