THE BLUEBIRD 191 



heard nearly the year through about English gar- 

 dens and along the old hedge-rows, that is quite 

 beyond the compass of our bird's instrument. On 

 the other hand, our bird is associated with the 

 spring as the British species cannot be, being a 

 winter resident also, while the brighter sun and sky 

 of the New World have given him a coat that far 

 surpasses that of his transatlantic cousin. 



It is worthy of remark that among British birds 

 there is no blue bird. The cerulean tint seems 

 much rarer among the feathered tribes there than 

 here. On this continent there are at least three 

 species of the common bluebird, while in all our 

 woods there is the blue jay and the indigo-bird, — 

 the latter so intensely blue as to fully justify its 

 name. There is also the blue grosbeak, not much 

 behind the indigo-bird in intensity of color; and 

 among our warblers the blue tint is very common. 



It is interesting to know that the bluebird is not 

 confined to any one section of the country ; and that 

 when one goes West he will still have this favorite 

 with him, though a little changed in voice and 

 color, just enough to give variety without marring 

 the identity. 



The Western bluebird is considered a distinct spe- 

 cies, and is perhaps a little more brilliant and showy 

 than its Eastern brother; and Nuttall thinks its 

 song is more varied, sweet, and tender. Its color 

 approaches to ultramarine, while it has a sash of 

 chestnut-red across its shoulders, — all the effects, I 

 Buspect, of that wonderful air and sky of California, 



