178 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec. 



breast chestnut-rufous; rest of under parts washed with same 

 colour; upper parts steel-blue, tail deeply forked. Body about the 

 size of that of the goldfinch ; the long tail feathers give a length 

 to the bird greater than the sparrows. This swallow nests inside 

 buildings, but in a few instances has been known to build out- 

 side. It is with us from late April until September. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons. Cliff or Eave Swallow. Adults 

 with'i steel-blue /crown, back and centre of breast; forehead 

 whitish; throat and sides of head chestnut; tail feathers of 

 nearly equal length. Midway in size between the goldfinch and 

 the house sparrow. This is the swallow that builds nests under the 

 eaves of buildings, and is our most abundant kind. It is with 

 us from early May until the middle of September. 



Progne subis, the Purple Martin. Male shining bluish- 

 black, with wings and tail duller. Female with upper parts 

 bluish-black; throat, breast and sides grayish; belly white. Size 

 between the house sparrow and the robin. Nests are made of 

 straw and twigs built in small bird-houses. Least common of 

 any of our swallows. It is here from late April until August. 



Passerina cyanea, the Indigo Bunting, or Indigo-bird. 

 Male, rich blue, deeper on the head, brighter on the back; wings 

 and tail black, edged with blue; lores blackish. Female of a 

 grayish brown, the wings and tail onlv showing bluish. Slightlv 

 larger than the goldfinch. The size alone would serve to 

 distinguish it from the bluebird. The song also is very 

 different, it reminding one somewhat of the purple finch trying 

 to sing like a goldfinch. Then the Indigo-bird is so rare with us 

 that there is little likelihood of confounding the two species. 



We come now to some species of black birds having bluish 

 reflections none of which need be mistaken for the bluebird, 

 as all are larger. 



QuiscALUs guiscuLA ^neus, the Bronze Blackbird, or Crow 

 Blackbird. Larger than the robin. Very common from April 

 to October. 



ScoLEOCOPHAGUs CARQLiNus, the Rusty Blackbird. Male in 

 spring plumage glossy bluish-black; at other seasons, feathers 

 tipped with rusty. Female without bluish gloss; more rusty than 

 male. Slightly smaller than the robin. Tolerablv common 

 from April to October. 



Cyanocitta cristata, the Blue Jay. Upper parts blue; under 

 parts white, washed with dusky on the sides; black patches on 

 wings, tail and about the head and breast ; head crested. Larger 

 than the robin. A common permanent resident. Mimics other 

 birds, as Broad-winged hawk and woodpeckers, in its calls. A 

 beautiful bird, and one that is most cautious during the breeding 

 season. The nest in this section is built in tall trees in the forest. 



