28 SlXOlXf; BIRDS— OSCIXES. 



Sialia Mexicana, Swaisson. 



THE WESTERN BLUEBIRD. 



Sialia Mexicana, Swaixson, F. Bor. Am. II. 1831, 202. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 

 223. — Kkxneulv, X iv. 23. — IlEbH.MANX, X. vi. 43. — Cooper and Slckley, XII. 

 iii. 173. — Suilia ocddmtalis, Tow.vse.nd, Jour. Ac. Niit. Sc. VII. ii. 1837, 1 88. — Aid., 

 Birds Amcr. II. 1841, 176; pi. 135. — Nuttai.l, Man. I. (2d cd.) 1840, 513. — Kew- 

 liERRY, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route, 80; Rep. P. R. K. \l. w. 1857. — Sylvia occidentulis, 

 Ald-, Oni. Biofj. V. 1839, 41 ; pi. 393. — Sialia co.rulw-collis, Vigors, Zool. Beechov's 

 Voyage, 1839, 18; pi. iii. 



Si'. Cii.\u. Bill slender ; head and neek all round, and upper parts generally ljii;.dit 

 azure blue. ]iiterseapular rej;ions, sides aiul fore part ol" the l)reast, and sides of the belly, 

 dark reddish brown, llest of under ])arts (with tail coverts) pale bluish, tinged with 



gray about tlie anal region. Female duller above"; the ba<'k brownish ; the blue of the 

 throat replaced Ijy ashy brown, with a shade of blue. Length, C.oO ; wing, 4.-2.") ; tail, 2.90. 



Young brownish blue, the breast white, with pale brown spots. 



Hab. Pacific Coast, North America, and along the ^'alley of the Gila to the ujiper Kio 

 Grande, and south. 



Thi.s Ijeaiitiful and interesting bird is abundant in all tlie wooded districts 

 of California, except liigli in the mountains, and some probably reside during 

 summer even in the hot climate of the Colorado Valley, where I saw them 

 examining buildings and knot-holes in trees for a nesting-place in Feliruary. 



They are numerous towards the coast, and up to the 49tli parallel at 

 least, in summer. Their song being much less sweet and varied than that 

 of the Eastern bluebird (S. sialis), they have attracted less attention, and, not 

 being encouraged to build about houses by the little box usually provided 

 for that species, they have not become quite so familiar. I have, however, 

 known of a nest built under tlie porch of a dwelling-house at Santa Barbara ; 

 they only need a little encouragement to become half domesticated. 



The nest is usually built in a deserted woodpecker's hole, or other cavity of 

 a tree, and the eggs, very pale blue, are fom- or five in number. They prob- 



