PAINTED BUNTING. 
241 
orange tree j I liavc also found tlioni in a coni- 
*®on bramble or blackberry busb. They arc formed 
Exteriorly of dry jjrass, intermingled with the silk of 
EMerpillars, lined tvith hair, and lastly with some 
Extremely line roots of plants. The eggs arc four or 
E'’e, white, or rather peart coloured, marked nith 
h'txplisli brown specks. As some ot these nests had 
Eggs so late as the ‘25th of June, I think it probable 
^^attliey sometimes raise two brood in the same season, 
'^hc vounn- birds of both sexes, during the first season, 
Ete of a line '■■rceH olive above, and dull yellow below. 
?lie females ’’undergo little or no change, but that of 
EEcomiii"- of a more brou’uish cast. The males, on the 
Eontrarv” are long and slow in arriving at their full 
'ariety'o’f colours. In the second season, the blue on 
'lie bead be"ins to make its appearance, intermixed 
^itli the olive green ; the next year, the yellow she\ys 
’^elf on the back and rump ; and also the red, in 
^Etached simts, on the throat and lower parts. All 
^^ese colours are completed in tbo^ lourtly season. 
Except, sometimes, that the green still continues on 
tail. On the fourth and fifth season, the bird 
j’Ex attained his coni]»letc colours. No dependence, 
however, can be placed on the regularity of this change 
'** birds confined in a cage, as the want of proper food, 
Ejinshinc, and variety of climate, all conspire against 
regular operations of nature. 
The nonpareil is live inches and three quarters long, 
ciii-ht inches and three quarters in extent ; head, 
**Eck above, and sides of the same, a rich purplish blue ; 
Eyelid, chin and whole lower parts, vermilion; back 
‘*'''1 scapulars, glossy yellow, stained with rich green, 
in old birds with red ; lesser wing-coverts, purple ; 
‘*Eger, green ; wings, dusky red, sometimes edged with 
§Eeeu ; lon-er part of the back, rump, and tail-coverfs, 
fEep glossy red, inclining to carmine; tail, slightly 
/"'ked, purplish brown (generally green;) lep and 
;E?t, leaden gray; bill, black above, pale bine below; 
E*^of the eye, hazel. . 
The female is five and a half inches long, and eight 
''OL. n. Q 
