656 HISTORY OF THE 



Iris brown; bill yellow, with tips and often the ridge dusky; 

 young birds show les^ yellow, and the upper mandible is usually 

 all dusky, except the edges and a little on basal sides; legs 

 brown; feet and claws dark brown. 



The general habits, actions, nesting and eggs of this western 

 form are like those of the eastern species. Eggs: l.lTx. 81. 



Genus SIALIA Swainson. 



"Bill short, stout, broader than high at base, then compressed; slightly 

 notched at tip. Rictus with short bristles. Tarsi not longer than middle toe; 

 claws considerably curved. Wings much longer than tail; the first primary 

 spurious, not one-fourth the longest. Tail moderate; slightly forked. Eggs 

 plain blue. Nest in holes. The species of this genus are all well marked, and 

 adult males are easily distinguishable. In all, blue forms a prominent feature. 

 Three well-marked species are known, with a fourth less distinct. The females 

 are duller in color than the males. The young are spotted and streaked with 

 white." 



Sialia sialis (Linn.). 



BLUEBIRD. 

 PLATE XXXV. 



An abundant resident in the eastern part of the State; com- 

 mon to the middle; retiring in winter to the thickets in the deep 

 ravines and along the streams; a rare summer resident in the 

 western portion of the State. Begin laying the last of April. 



B. 158. E. 22. C. 27. G. 10, 334. U. 766. 



Habitat. Eastern United States; north to Nova Scotia, On- 

 tario and Manitoba; west to the base of the Kocky Mountains; 

 breeding throughout their range; wintering from the Middle 

 States southward to Cuba. 



Sp. Char. Breast and sides cinnamon or chestnut. Throat cinnamon, like 

 breast; belly white. Breast, etc., deep cinnamon or cinnamon rufous; sides of 

 neck and malar region blue. Adult male: Above, rich cobalt blue (rarely vary- 

 ing to ultramarine, more rarely still to cerulean). In winter the blue is duller, 

 the cinnamon of breast, etc., deeper and more purplish, and feathers of back, 

 etc., bordered with rusty. Adult female: Above, dull grayish, the wings dull 

 blue, the rump, upper tail coverts and tail brighter blue; a whitish orbital ring; 

 breast, etc., light dull cinnamon, the throat paler, with a dusky streak along 



