ESTERN BLUE GROSBEAK. _Guiraca caerulea lazula._

Range.--Western United States north to Kansas, Colorado and northern
California.

Slightly larger than the last and lighter blue; nests the same and egg
not distinctive.

598. INDIGO BUNTING. _Passerina cyanea._

Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding north to Manitoba
and Nova Scotia; winters south of the United States.

This handsome species is rich indigo on the head and neck, shading into
blue or greenish blue on the upper and under parts. They are very
abundant in some localities along roadsides, in thickets and open woods,
where their song is frequently heard, it being a very sweet refrain
resembling, somewhat, certain passages from that of the Goldfinch. They
nest at low elevations in thickets or vines, building their home of
grass and weeds, lined with fine grass or hair, it being quite a
substantial structure. The eggs, which are laid in June or July, are
pale bluish white. Size .75 x .52.

599. LAZULI BUNTING. _Passerina amoena._

Range.--Western United States, breeding from Mexico to northern United
States and the interior of British Columbia; east to Kansas.

This handsome bird is of the size of _cyanea_, but is azure blue above
and on the throat, the

[Illustration 368: Blue Grosbeak.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Pale bluish white.]
[Illustration: Indigo Bunting.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 367

breast being brownish and the rest of the underparts, white. It is the
western representative of the Indigo Bunting, and its habits and nesting
habits are in all respects the same as those of that species, the nests
being made of twigs, grasses, strips of bark, weeds, leaves, etc. The
eggs are like those of the last, pale bluish white. Size .75 x .55.

600. VARIED BUNTING. _Passerina versicolor_.

Range.--Mexico and north to southern Texas.

The general color of this odd bird is purplish, changing to bright blue
on the crown and rump, and with a reddish nape. They are quite abundant
in some localities along the Lower Rio Grande, where they nest in bushes
and tangled under brush, the nests being like those of the last species,
and rarely above five feet from the ground. The eggs are pale bluish
white, three or four in number, and laid during May or June. Size .75 x
.55.

600a. BEAUTIFUL BUNTING. _Passerina versicolor pulchra._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

Slightly smaller but very simil