"^^"^-^ COTINGAS . 443 



ners are so strikingly similar. To the Thrushes generally, our bird 

 has a near affinity, and his song is nearly similar to that of the Amer- 

 ican Robin, but more tender and languid in the delivery. Besides 

 his other affinities, he seems allied to the Red-Breast of Europe {Syl- 

 via rubecola) , as well as to the Blue-throated Warbler (S. sulcica)^ 

 which are sufficiently distinct from true Sylvias. 



Subgenus — Sialia. (Genus Sialia. Swainson.) 



The BILL, rather robust, short, and cleft to the eyes, about as wide 

 as high at the base ; upper mandible rounded, carinated towards the 

 base, notched and curved at the tip, the lower scarcely shorter, 

 straight, compressed at the sides. Tongue cartilaginous, shortly 

 lacerate at the base, and emarginate at the point. Nostrils basal, 

 open, oval, partly obstructed by an internal tubercle, the nasal fosse 

 extensive and depressed. Tarsus rather robust, a little shorter than 

 the middle toe ; inner toe free ; the hind one stoutest, longer than the 

 nail. Wings rather long and acute ; 1st and 2d primaries longest, 

 the 3d scarcely shorter ; (spurious feather about an inch long.) 



The Blue-Bird is familiar to the orchard, dwells much in trees, 

 forming its nest in their hollow trunks, with a coarse lining of dry 

 grass or hay ; it lays 5 or 6 pale blue and spotless eggs ; lives on cole- 

 opterous insects, grasshoppers, worms, and berries, in the manner of 

 the Thrush, and possesses the same pleasing and musical voice. 

 It does not affect solitude or retirement, often takes possession of an 

 artificial box near the house or barn, and flits along the public path, 

 in preference to the woods or secluded retreats. 



