62 LAZULI FINCH. 
this would unite Fringilla to Tanagra, as Spiza, on the other 
hand, shows its transition to Emberiza. 
The Lazuli Finch is five inches and three quarters long. The 
bill is formed like that of the Indigo-bird, [Fringilla cyanea, Wils.) 
but is emarginated near the tip, being horn colour, as well as the 
feet; the irides are dark brown. The whole head and neck are 
brilliant verdigrise-blue; the back is brownish-black, intermixed 
with blue, and a little ferruginous-brown; the rump is pure verdi¬ 
grise-blue: the superior portion of the breast is pale ferruginous; 
the lower part of the breast, the belly, and inferior tail coverts, are 
white. The smaller wing coverts are blue; the middling coverts 
are blackish at base, and broadly tipped with white, forming a 
wide band across the wing; the greater wing coverts are blackish, 
obscurely margined with blue, and slightly tipped with white on 
the exterior web, constituting a second band across the wings 
parallel to the first, but much narrower; the primaries and second¬ 
aries are blackish, obscurely margined with blue on the outer web; 
the under wing coverts are whitish, a little intermixed with blue. 
The tail is slightly emarginated, the feathers being blackish, edged 
with blue on the outer web, and with white on the inner web at tip. 
The above description of this handsome bird is taken from a 
male in summer plumage, the only specimen brought by Long’s 
exploring party; hence we are unable to give any positive informa¬ 
tion relative to the female and young, though from analogy we 
must believe them in great part destitute of the blue colour, and 
otherwise less brilliantly adorned. 
This species appears to be rather rare; it is found along the 
Arkansaw river, near the base of the Rocky Mountains, during 
the summer months; they frequent the bushy valleys, keeping much 
in the grass, and seldom alight on shrubs or trees. In this respect, 
also, they resemble the Indigo-bird, and probably their habits are 
the same, although the note is entirely dissimilar. 
