Dr. Bachman kept several of these birds in an aviary; two of these mated, took possession of the nest of a Cardinal Grosbeak, which they drove off, and laid two eggs that were unfortunately destroyed. In the aviary these birds were silent. Mr. Audubon kept one, in confinement, with him in Edinburgh. It had been raised from the nest. This bird frequently sang in the night, and before dawn. It was extremely tame, coming out or going into its cage at pleasure, perching on the head-dress of Mrs. Audubon, or on the heads of other members of the family, alighting on the table and feeding on almost anything given to it. If a gold or silver coin was thrown upon the table he would go to it, take it up in his bill, and apparently toss it about with pleasure. After bathing he would go to the fire and perch on the fender to dry himself. He would attack other birds, if put into the cage with him. In feeding he sometimes held his food in his claws like a Hawk. The eggs of this bird are of a uniform light-blue color, and most resemble those of the _Sialia arctica_, but are larger and of a lighter color. Their color is quite fugitive, and readily fades into a dull white upon even a slight exposure to light. They are of an oval shape, equally rounded at either end, and measure .98 of an inch in length by .65 in breadth. [10] Atlantic Monthly, XXIII, p. 707. GENUS CYANOSPIZA, BAIRD. _Passerina_, VIEILLOT, Analyse, 1816. Not of LINNÆUS, used in Botany. _Spiza_, BONAPARTE, Synopsis, 1828. Not of 1825. _Cyanospiza_, BAIRD. (Type, _Tanagra cyanea_, L.) [Line drawing: _Cyanospiza amœna._ 2645 ♂] GEN. CHAR. Bill deep at the base, compressed; the upper outline considerably curved; the commissure rather concave, with an obtuse, shallow lobe in the middle. Gonys slightly curved. Feet moderate; tarsus about equal to middle toe; the outer lateral toe barely longer than the inner, its claw falling short of the base of the middle; hind toe about equal to the middle without claw. Claws all much curved, acute. Wings long and pointed, reaching nearly to the middle of the tail; the second and third quills longest. Tail appreciably shorter than the wings; rather narrow, very nearly even. The species of this genus are all of very small size and of showy plumage, usually blue, red, or green, in well-defined areas. The females plain olivaceous or brownish; paler beneath. Species. A. Head all round uniform blue; eyelids not different, commissure distinctly sinuated. _a._ Lower parts blue; no white bands on wing. 1. C. cyanea. Entirely deep ultramarine-blue, more purplish on the head, somewhat greenish posteriorly. _Female_ dull umber above, grayish-white beneath, the breast with obsolete darker streaks. _Hab._ Eastern Province of United States, south, in winter, to Panama.