1908] Blue Birds of the Maritime Provinces. 177 



the only blue being on the tail; underparts yellowish; white 

 wing mark present though less noticeable than in male. This 

 is our bluest warbler. Smaller than the goldhnch. Tolerably 

 common in mixed woods, where its oft repeated zee-zee-zee song 

 may be heard. They are present with us from early May until 

 September. 



CoMPSoTHLYPis AMERICANA, the Parula Warbler, or Blue 

 Yellow-backed Warbler. Male with upper parts grayish; a 

 yellowish patch on middle of back; throat and breast yellow; a 

 black, or bluish black, or rufous, band across the breast. Female 

 similar, but the band on breast sometimes lacking. The smallest 

 of our bluish birds. A fairly common summer resident from 

 early May until September. The nest is a beautiful hanging 

 basket of Usnea moss. 



Helminthophila ruficapilla, the Nashville Warbler. Male 

 with bluish-gray on top and sides of head ; a chestnut patch on 

 crown; imder parts bright vellow, whiter on bellv. Female, 

 colours rather duller than those of male. Tolerably common in 

 moist, bush grown pastures and similar places. Smaller than 

 the goldfinch. Nests upon the ground. 



Vireo solitarius, the Blue-headed Vireo. Top and sides of 

 the head bluish-gray ; eve-ring and lores white ; two white wing- 

 bars; underparts white. Slightly larger than the goldfinch. 



Probablv more common than is generally supposed, the 

 song being mistaken for that of the Red-eyed Vireo. There is no 

 reason to be misled, however, as the songs are quite different, 

 that of this blue-headed species being louder and clearer than that 

 of his red-eyed relative. The vireos build hanging nests, thus 

 gaining for themselves the name of hangbirds. This blue-headed, 

 or solitary vireo, is with us from late April until October. 



We come now to the swallows, a group of birds with blue 

 in the plumage, but none of which need be mistaken for blue- 

 birds. Excepting the tree swallow, this group of birds may 

 all be found about buildings. Even that species sometimes 

 nests in bird-houses supplied by mankind. All are insectivorous. 



Tachycixeta bicolor, the Tree Swallow, or White-bellied 

 Swallow. Both sexes are alike: upper parts steel blue or steel- 

 green; under parts white : outer tail feathers longer than middle 

 ones. Between the goldfinch and the house sparrow in size, but 

 having long Avings, which make it appear larger when flying. A 

 tolerably common summer resident from the middle of April 

 until the middle of July. The nest is situated in bird-houses, 

 holes in trees and hollow fence poles and is composed of fine grass 

 blades, lined with feathers. 



Chelidox erythrogaster, the Barn Swallow, also called 

 Forktail Swallow. Sexes similar; forehead, throat and upper 



