THE BLACK-HEADED FINCH. 
87 
Adult female, dark green throughout, but with a yellowish tinge beneath. Inner webs of wing feathers, brown. 
Young of both sexes. Similar to the adult female, but more dusky above, and yellowish beneath. Irides, bill and 
feet brown in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Easily known in the adult stage by the bright colors as given above, while the young male and female are greener 
than the same sex in closely allied species, found within our limits. Although the adult females are normally as 
described, yet I have a specimen in my collection which is as brightly colored as any male I ever saw, and I have 
heard of at least one similar specimen. Distributed throughout the extreme Southern States in summer; winters in 
Southern Florida and Mexico. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of thirteen specimens. Length, 5-20; stretch, 8-20; wing, 2'65; tail, 2-25; bill, ’40; 
tarsus, '67. Longest specimen, 5-50; greatest extent of wings, 8‘50; longest wing, 2-85; tail, 2-45; bill, ‘45; tarsus, 
•75. Shortest specimen, 5-00; smallest extent of wings, 8-00; shortest wing, 2-00; tail, 2-00; bill, -40; tarsus, -61. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
The following descriptions were taken from specimens in the collection of the Boston Society of Natural History, 
for an examination of which I am indebted to Mr. Emerton. 
Nests, composed of fine grasses lined with horse hairs and finer grasses. Dimensions: external diameter, 3 
inches, internal, 2 50; external depth, 1-50 inches, internal, 1. 
Eggs, four in number, rather round in form, ashy-white, spotted and blotched with brown, lilac and umber. 
Dimensions, from - 60 x ‘55 to - 55 x '45. 
HABITS. 
The songs of the beautiful Nonpareil may be heard in the neighborhood of almost any 
tangled thicket throughout the entire extent of Florida after the first of May; but before this 
they are only to be seen on the Keys or in the extreme southern portions of the mainland. We 
found them very abundant in the immediate vicinity of Miami early in January, but did not 
hear the song until late in March. 
This species is always shy and retiring, seldom appearing in the open, but remaining in the 
dense thorny undergrowth which covers all waste places in Florida, especially if the soil has 
been cultivated. Whenever the birds perceive an intruder they retire into the depths of these 
fastnesses, and it then requires considerable beating to drive them out; when they at once dart 
into the neatest cover. The adult males are especially shy, and seldom show themselves. 
Even while singing they remain concealed, and although we were thus furnished with a clew to 
their whereabouts, it was with the utmost difficulty that we caught sight of the authors of the 
harmonious strains which nearly always greeted our ears when we were in the vicinity of their 
homes. During the latter part of May the males may be seen playfully chasing the females, 
but I do not think they breed until June. 
GENUS II. PHON1PARA. THE LITTLE FINCHES. 
Gen. Ch. Coracoid bones a little shorter than the top of keel, which but slightly exceeds in height one-half the width 
of the sternum. Size, small. 
Members of this genus may be distinguished by the small size, combined with the sternal characters given 
above. 
PHONIPARA ZENA. 
The Black-headed Pinch. 
Phonipara Zena Linn., Syst. Nat. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Plate II. Upper figure, male; lower, female. Plant, Lantana Camara. 
Sp. Ch. Form, not robust. Size, small. Bill, short, but with the upper mandible arched. Wings and tail, 
short; the latter rounded. Sternum, not stoutly built. 
Color. Adult male. Top and sides of head, black; becoming olivaceous on the back of neck. Remainder of 
