Range.--United States, west of the Plains, breeding from Mexico north to British Columbia; winters south of the United States. This species is of the size of the last (8 inches long), and is a bright cinnamon brown color with black head, and black and white wings and tail. The habits of this bird are the same as those of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and its song is very similar but more lengthy. Their nests, like those of the last, are very flimsy structures placed in bushes or trees, usually below twenty feet from the ground; they are open frameworks of twigs, rootlets and weed stalks, through which the eggs can be plainly seen. The eggs are similar to those of the preceding but are usually of a paler color, the markings, therefore showing with greater distinctness. Size 1.00 × .70. [Illustration 367: Greenish blue.] [Illustration: Rose-breasted Grosbeak.] [Illustration: Pale greenish white.] [Illustration: J. B. Pardoe. NEST OF ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.] [Illustration: right hand margin.] Page 366 597. BLUE GROSBEAK. _Guiraca cærulea._ Range.--Southeastern United States, breeding from the Gulf north to Pennsylvania and Illinois, and casually to New England. Smaller than the last two species and deep blue, with wings and tail blackish, and the lesser coverts and tips of greater, chestnut. It is a fairly common species in the southerly parts of its range, nesting most frequently in low bushes or vines in thickets; the nest is made of rootlets, weed stalks and grasses and sometimes leaves. The three or four eggs are bluish white, unmarked. Size .85 × .65. Data.--Chatham Co., Ga., June 10, 1898. 3 eggs. Nest of roots, leaves and snake skin, lined with fine rootlets, 3 feet from the ground in a small oak bush. 597a. WESTERN BLUE GROSBEAK. _Guiraca cærulea 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 × .52. 599. LAZULI BUNTING. _Passerina amœna._ 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