CINCINNATI ZOO GUIDE 
The Finch Family. A very large one, including in it the bunt¬ 
ing, the larks, the tanagers, and the weaver birds. Canary 
birds are also included in this family. They have a hard bill 
adapted for shelling and eating seeds. They build nests remark¬ 
able for their artistic beauty. 
The Java Sparrow is a large finch found in Java and is quite 
popular as a cage bird. 
Indigo Finch ( Cyanospiza cyanea). This bird has a changeable 
color and is very pretty. In the summer months the color of the 
male is a bright indigo; later in the season it becomes blue, and 
towards winter it changes to a light green. 
The Nonpareil Finch ( Cyanospiza ciris). Belongs to the 
Southern States. It is in great demand because of the beauty of 
its plumage and the sweetness of its song. It thrives well in 
captivity. 
Cardinal Grosbeak ( Cardinalis virginiana). The color of this 
bird is a bright carmine, and it has an elongated crest of the 
same color. It is found in the eastern part of the United States 
and is a fine singer. 
Buntings. There are several varieties: Yellow hammers, bunt¬ 
ing larks, reed buntings, cirl buntings, ortolans, etc. They 
are common in all parts of the world, and are distinguished by 
their sharp conical bills. 
The Reed Bird ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus). A frequenter of 
marshes and rice fields of the south. It possesses considerable 
cunning, as is evident by the fact that when its nest is disturbed 
it pretends lameness in order to draw the enemy away. 
Thrushes. There are many varieties of thrushes and they are 
usually remarkable for their melody of song and their powers. 
Most notable of the members of the thrush family are the 
following: 
Mocking Bird ( Mimus polyglottus). There are few songs or 
sounds that it does not imitate so perfectly as to deceive the 
most experienced ear. 
The Cat Bird ( Mimus carolinensis). This is a bird of modest 
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