30 SI\(;iN(i BIRDS— OSCIXES. 



in large numbers to the viuiuity of the town, and remained until the end of 

 February, wlieu all suddenly disappeared. They were at that time sitting 

 perched on the low weeds and bushes, about the plains, often quite a flock 

 together, and some constantly hovering like blue butterflies over the grass, at 

 a height often of fifty feet, on the watch for insects. They seem everpvhere 

 more gregarious than tlie other species. 



Al.iout Lake Talioe, and the summits of the Sierra Nevada, above six thou- 



sand feet elevation, I found this species numerous in September, and they 

 had with them the young lately fledged. They doubtless breed there as they 

 do throughout the Rocky Moimtains as far south as Santa Fe, New Mexico, 

 where Colonel McC'all found them building in lioxes jjut iij) for them by 

 the inhabitants. (Heermann.) 



They usually build like the other species in holes of trees, sometimes in 

 holes in clifls. (Xuttall.) 



They were remarkably silent at the seasons when 1 observed them. 



Family SYLYIID.E, Syu7as. 



Char. Bill slender, broad and depressed at the base, distinctly notched 

 and decurved at the tip. Culmen sharp-ridged at base. Frontal feathers 

 reaching to the nostrils, which are oval, with membrane above, and over- 

 hung by a few bristles or by a feather, llictal bristles extending beyond 

 nostrils. Tarsi booted or scntellate. Basal joint of middle toe attached its 

 win lie length externally, half-way internally. Primaries ten, sjjurious pri- 

 mary about half the second, which is shorter than the seventh. Lateral toes 

 equak 



Sub-Family EEGULIN^. 



Char. Nostrils oval. The frontal feathers elongated ; their bristle shafts 

 with the rictal bristles extending beyond the nostrils, the former scale-like. 



