^42 HISTORY OF THE 



Young birds have a large, triangular, pale ochraceous light spot on the end of 

 each feather (rather paler below), bounded externally by a narrow border of 

 blackish; the quills and tail feathers as in the adult." 



Iris dark brown; bill, legs, feet and claws black. 



These birds, notwithstanding the name they bear, are .quite 

 social during the fall and winter months, and often associate to- 

 gether in small flocks or family groups. They seldom visit the 

 habitations of man, preferring for their haunts the wild mountain 

 sides, deep, rocky ravines, and shrubby growths upon the plains. 

 They are not timid or shy, as might be expected from their re- 

 tiring habits, and as their favorite perching places are upon 

 dead limbs or the topmost branches of trees. They are usually 

 in sight, and if not, make their presence known by their loud, 

 ringing call note, and charming song, so varied and full of sil- 

 very melody, that echoes in the caiions and on the mountain 

 sides from the depth of winter until the close of the breeding 

 season, and occasionally in the fall and early winter, but not in 

 as full and energetic manner as during the mated time. 



They are quite common throughout their range, making their 

 summer home in the higher mountain regions and wintering in 

 the foothills among the cedars and upon the plains. They are 

 expert flycatchers, but during the winter months feed largely 

 upon the cedar berries; they occasionally search for food upon 

 the ground, but not in a rasorial manner. In flight and actions 

 they are easy, and seem to partake of and share somewhat the 

 characteristics of the Flycatchers, and of our Bluebirds. 



Their nests are placed in slight depressions in the ground, 

 liollows in logs, fissures in rocks and other similar places. They 

 are quite bulky, and loosely constructed of bits of twigs, stems, 

 pine needles, grasses, etc., and lined at times with soft vegetable 

 matter. Eggs three to six (usually four), .92x. 68; they vary 

 greatly in size and markings; ground color whitish, speckled 

 and spotted with reddish brown, usually thickest and somewhat 

 confluent around the larger end; in form, oval. 



