08 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



and monotonous song than that of the common Bluebird, and that it has the 

 same warbling tone and manner. He afterwards observed the same species 

 in the winter, at Fort Vancouver, associating with the Western Bluebird. 



Dr. Woodhouse found the Arctic Bluebird quite common in the vicinity 

 of Santa Fe, in New Mexico, where the}' breed about the houses in bo.xes put 

 up for them by the inhabitants for the purpose. 



Mr. Townsend found this species in the vicinity of the Platte Eiver, near 

 the Black Hills, and also ou the banks of the Columbia. They confined 

 themselves to the fences in the neighborhood of settlements, occasionally 

 lighting upon the ground and scratching for minute insects. He descriljes 

 their song as a delightful warlile. Its notes resemble those of the common 

 Bluebird, but are so different as to be easily recognized ; they are e(iually 

 sweet and clear, but have much less power. 



Neither Dr. (iambel nor Dr. Heermann found this species in California 

 excepting during the winter, and were of the opinion that none remain there 

 to breed. 



Dr. Kenuerly observed them at different points among the liocky ^foun- 

 tains, M'here they frequented the vicinity of his camp early in the nmrning, 

 at some times in pairs and at others in flocks of four or five. 



Mr. J. K. Lord states that he found this Bluebird very abundant between 

 the Cascades and the liocky Mountains, where tliey arrive in June and leave 

 in September. After nesting tliey assembled in large flocks, and fed on the 

 open plains. 



The eggs are of a very liglit blue, paler than those of the other sj)ecies. 

 They measure .89 of an inch in length by .66 in lireadtli. 



Mr. Eidgway states that he found the liocky IMountain Blucliird nesting 

 in Virginia City in June. Its nests were built about the old buildings, 

 and occasionally in the unused excavations about the mines. At Austin lie 

 also found it common in July, in similar localities. On the East Hundjoldt 

 Mountains it was very numerous, especially on the more ele\'ated portions, 

 where it nested among the rocks and, though more rarely, in the deserted 

 excavations of woodpeckers in the stunted piiion and cedar trees. He 

 describes it as generally very shy and difficult to obtain, seldom permitting 

 a very near approach. In its habits it is much less arboreal than either *S^. 

 incxicana or ;S'. sinlis, always preferring the open mountain portions in the 

 higher ranges of the Great Basin. 



In regard to its notes iMr. Ridgway says : " The common note of this 

 species would, from its character, be at once recognized as that of a Blue- 

 bird. Its autumnal note, however, lacks entirely the peculiar plaintiveness 

 so characteristic of that of our Eastern species, and is much more feeble, 

 consisting of a simple weak cldrp. Like the S. mcxicana, the S. arctica 

 was also never heard to give utterance to anything resembling the lovely 

 spring warbling of the *S'. sialU." 



