(GLAUCOUS FINCH.)
+Guiraca glaucocærulea+, _Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S._ 1868, p. 139
(Buenos Ayres), _iid. Nomencl._ p. 27; _Durnford, Ibis_, 1877,
p. 170 (Buenos Ayres); _Salvin, Ibis_, 1880, p. 353 (Salta);
_Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl._ viii. p. 92 (Concepcion);
_Sharpe, Cat. B._ xii. p. 75. +Coccoborus glaucocæruleus+,
_Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 488 (Paraná).
_Description._--Uniform glaucous blue; wings and tail blackish, the
feathers edged with light blue: total length 5·7 inches, wing 2·9,
tail 2·3.
_Hab._ Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
This is a rare Finch, and its massive beak and rich blue plumage give to
it a highly interesting appearance; but about its habits I have little
to tell, for it is essentially a bird of the wild forest, seldom coming
near the abodes of man, and being, moreover, shy in disposition, it is
difficult to observe it even in its haunts. It is migratory, and is
usually seen singly or in pairs, or in small companies of four or five
individuals. The male sings, but his performance is merely a confused
medley of chattering notes, uttered in so low a tone that they can
scarcely be heard at a distance of twelve yards.