OUR BEST SINGERS 103 



we, tur-we,''^ perhaps their expression of regret 

 at the waning season which will soon necessi- 

 tate their departure from the scene of their 

 happy home-making. Like the Robin, their 

 nests are very generally distributed in park, 

 field, pasture, orchard and lawn, but they do 

 not frequent the deep woods. Their summer 

 range extends over eastern North America to 

 the base of the Rocky Mountains, as far north 

 as New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba. 

 They winter from New York southward. 



The plumage of the male is azure blue above, 

 the feathers of the wings having dark edgings! 

 The throat, breast and sides are brick-red, belly 

 white. In the fall the blue is somewhat tinged 

 with rusty red. The blue of the female is duller 

 and the breast paler. They are about seven 

 inches long. 



