SAXICOLID.K — THE SAXICOI.AS. (53 



Nat. Bernuula, IS")!), 28, 6fi (rcsulciit in Hcnimda). Si/lvia siali.i, Lath. ; Ampr.U.i 

 xialis, NuTT. ; Eryliiraca wilsoni, Sw. 

 FigniT.s : ViEiLLOT, Ois. Am. Sept. II, pi. ci, eii, ciii. — Wii.s. I, pi. iii. — Auu. Orii. 

 r.iog. 11, pi. f.viii. — Id. H. .\. 11, pi. cxxxiv. — Doughty, Cab. 1, ]il. .\ii. 



Sp. C\\\u. Entire upper parts, iiieliuling wings anil tail, eontiruious anil uiiilbrm azure- 

 blue; the cheeks of a duller tint of the .same. Beneath redili.sh-browii ; the abdomen, anal 

 region, and under tail-coverts white. Bill and feet black. Shaft.s of the quills and tail- 

 feathers black. Female with the blue Lighter, and tinged with bi'own on the head and 

 back. Length, 6.75 ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 2.00. 



Young. Males of the year dull brown on head and back : and lesser coverts streaked, 

 except on head, with white. Throat and fore part of breast streaked with white. Tertials 

 edged with brown. Rest of coloration somewhat like adult. 



Hab. Eastern United States ; west to Fort Laramie, Milk River : north to Lake Win- 

 nipeg I resident in Bermuda ; Cuba (rare), &UNDL.icu. 



A specimen fvdiu (hiat«uiiala (•"i0,4]lj', \';ui I'utteii) rel'errilile to the 

 var. azurca is uiidi.stiiiguishalile in color from North American e.xamples ; 

 the wings and tail are longer, however, meastiring respect ivy ly 4.20 and 

 3.00. 



Habits. The Bluebird is abundant throughout the eastern portion of 



North America, breeding in nearly 



every part, from Georgia and Louisi- ,<i^^^ 1 ^^^s^^^^^^^^^*- 



ana to the Arctic regions, witli only '"^fg \ j^j^^'^^S^^^ / 



this exception, that near tlie sea- \^;^^£;^|^HB^^B^^- >f' 

 board its migrations do not extend ^^^^^^^^9iR /'y 



so far to the north as in the interior. ^gk^^^^ ^^ - ' — - _ 

 It is very rarely to be met with be- ^9^^^^^ I 1 - =^ — 



yond the Penobscot, although Pro- aaS pB^a^ ^^ysK ^^S'^s^ -=--^-^ -— 



fessor Verrill mentions it as very dSw ^^~^ ^^^^^^^r _ = 



common in tlie western part of Maine. ^^ ^r^ 



It is found throughout the year in the 



Bermudas, and occasionally in Cuba. 



The Selkirk Settlement is the most northern locality to which it has been 



traced. It is not known to occm- farther west tlian the higldands west of 



the Mississijipi. 



Through all the Eastern States tlie Bluebird is one of the most familiar 

 and welcome of the earliest visitors of spring, usually making its appear- 

 ance as early as the first of March. In mild seasons they come in the latter 

 part of February, long before there is any apparent relaxation of the severity 

 of winter. In 18.57, in consequence of the unusual mildness of the season, 

 Bluebirds appeared in large numbers as early as the 15th of February, 

 and remained apparently without suffering any inconvenience, although the 

 weather subsequently became qxiite severe. In 1869 their first appearance 

 was observed as early as tlie 28th of .Tanuary, the earliest period of wliich 

 I can find any recoril. 



In the ]\Iiddle States, with every mild winter's day, the Bluebirds come 



Stalin sialis. 



