Loxia coerulea, LINNÆUS; Le Bouvreuil bleu d'Amérique, BUFFON;
Der dunkelblaue Kernbeisser, BECHSTEIN.
This bird is the size of the common grosbeak, about six inches and a
half in length, of which the tail measures two. The beak, which measures
six lines, is strong, and of a dark brown; the feet black; a black
streak surrounds the chin, and extends to the eyes: the whole plumage
is blue, except the greater wing coverts, the pen-feathers, and the
central tail feathers, which are dark brown.
The female is entirely brown, with a slight mixture of blue.
OBSERVATIONS.--I have had an opportunity of observing this bird among
the collection belonging to his Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe
Meiningen, where it is fed on canary seed. It calls little, and its
song is weak, but its plumage is beautiful. It is found in several
parts of America, in Brazil, Cayenne, and even in Carolina.