. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. FINCHES 65 The Pyrrhuloxia belongs to the Cardinal group of Finches. Their habits are those of the Cardi- nal, but the area in which they are found is but a small part of the country in which the true Cardinals live. The I'yrrliuloxia country is con- linecl to the hot upland areas uf the northern jjlateau of Mexico, and the adjacent parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Some suppose the Pvrrhuloxia to be more " shy and suspicious " than the Cardinal. Rut the experience of William L. and Irene Finlcy in photographing a Pyrrhuloxia on the
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. FINCHES 65 The Pyrrhuloxia belongs to the Cardinal group of Finches. Their habits are those of the Cardi- nal, but the area in which they are found is but a small part of the country in which the true Cardinals live. The I'yrrliuloxia country is con- linecl to the hot upland areas uf the northern jjlateau of Mexico, and the adjacent parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Some suppose the Pvrrhuloxia to be more " shy and suspicious " than the Cardinal. Rut the experience of William L. and Irene Finlcy in photographing a Pyrrhuloxia on the nest, as reported in Bird-Lore, is rather the reverse, showing that the bird has about the same confi- dence in human surroundings as has the Cardi- nal. The Cardinal traits have been so noticeable that the bird has often been known as the Gray Cardinal. The differences are also conspicuous. Instead of the cue note of the Cardinal, the mesquite is musical with his clear, cheerful whistling. The red crest is the most characteristic feature of the Pyrrhuloxia. Every change of mood in the bird is not only shown but exaggerated by the quick up and-down motions of the crest feathers. I'rom listlessness to alertness, and from curiosity to ennui are the changes of a second. These changes are rapid and occur many scores of times every hour. The eastern variety is called the Texas Pyr- rhuloxia (Pyrrhuloxia sinnata tcxana) and has the ring around the bill conspicuously marked with black. From El Paso west into southern Arizona the variety is known as the Arizona Pyrrhuloxia. It is a very fancy name, but it will remain, for it is a very fancy bird. Like the Blue Grosbeak the Arizona Pvrrhu- loxia is more fond of caterpillars and grass- hoppers than of other insects. Weevils are next in order of ])reference. The Parrot-bill ranges over much of the cotton belt of Texas and feeds u|)on two im])ortant cotton pests, one of which — the boll weevil — is one of our most destructive. Drawing
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