spotted with black, and tinged with bluish-grey. Tail similarly barred and
sprinkled, the inner webs of the three outer feathers white, and their extremities
light yellowish-red, more minutely sprinkled, and without bars.
Under parts blackish, sprinkled with yellowish-red, the belly lighter, and
a slight band of whitish across the fore-neck.
Length 12f inches, extent of wings 26; bill along the back j , along
the gap 2.
Adult Female. Plate LIT. Fig. 2.
The colouring of the female is similar to that of the male. The- three
outer tail-feathers are brownish on their inner webs, yellowish-red, without
dots, at the tip, with a distinct subterminal bar of black.
THE HARLEQUIN SNAKE.
This beautiful Snake is rather rare in the United States, where I
have observed it only in the south. It glides through the grass with
ease, and ascends to the tops of bushes and among the branches of fallen
trees, to bask in the sun. Children are fond of catching it on account of
its beauty. It feeds principally on insects, such as flies and small
Coleóptera. Its usual size is that represented in the plate.
T H E P A I N T E D FINCH.
. FRINGILLA Cm is, TEMM.
P L A T E L I U . MALE I N D I F F E R E N T S T A T E S O F P L U M A G E , A N D F E M A L E .
ABOUT the middle of April, the orange groves of the lower parts of
Louisiana, and more especially those in the immediate vicinity of the
City of New Orleans, are abundantly supplied with this beautiful little
Sparrow. But no sooner does it make its appearance than trap-cages arcset,
and a regular business is commenced in the market of that city.
The method employed in securing the male Painted Finch is so connected
with its pugnacious habits, that I feel inclined to describe it,
especially as it is so different from the common way of alluring birds,
that it may afford you, kind reader, some amusement.
A male bird in full plumage is shot and stuffed in a defensive attitude,
and perched among some grass seed, rice, or other food, on the
same platform as the trap-cage. This is taken to the fields or near the
orangeries, and placed in so open a situation, that it would be difficult
for a living bird of any species to fly over it, without observing it. The
trap is set. A male Painted Finch passes, perceives it, and dives towards
the stuffed bird, with all the anger which its little breast can contain.
It alights on the edge of the trap for a moment, and throwing its
body against the stuffed bird, brings down the trap, and is made prisoner.
In this manner, thousands of these birds are caught every spring.
So pertinacious are they in their attacks, that even when the trap has
closed upon them, they continue pecking at the feathers of the supposed
rival. The approach of man seems to allay its anger in a moment. The
live bird is removed to the lower apartment of the cage, and is thereby
made to assist in decoying others.
They feed almost immediately after being caught; and if able to
support the loss of liberty for a few days, may be kept for several years.
I have known some instances of their being kept in confinement for upwards
of ten years. Few vessels leave the port of New Orleans during
the summer months, without taking some Painted Finches, and through
this means they are transported probably to all parts of Europe. I have
seen them offered for sale in London and Paris, with the trifling differ