8. SIALIA. 331 



3. Sialia azurea. 



Sialia azurea, iSivnins. Phil. Mag. 1827, i. p. 369 ; Baird, Review, p. G2 



(1864) ; Sumichmst, Mem. Most. Soc. iV. I£. i. p. 544 (1869). 

 Sialia wilsoni, Sioains. apitd Bp. Consp. i. p. 298 (1850, partim) ; 



opud Scl. Cat. Amer. B. p. 10 (1862, partim) ; apud Gray, Hand-l. 



B. i. p. 229. no. 3312 (1869, partim) ; apud Scl. iif Salv. Nomencl. 



Av. Ncotr. p. 4 (1873). 

 Sialia sialis {Linn.), apud Coues, B. N. West, p. 13 (1874, partim) ; 



apud Coues, Birds Colorado Vail. p. 77 (1S7^, })nrtim.); apud Salv. Sf 



Godm. Biol. Centr.-Anier. Zool., Aves, i. p. 45 (1879, partim). 

 Sialia sialis {Linn.), var. aziu-ea, Swains., Baird, Brewer, 8f Ridgw. 



Hist. N.-Amer. B. i. p. 62 (1874). 



This form does not appear to differ materially in colour from tho 

 preceding, and rests its claim to be considered a species solely 

 npon the fact that it is a somewhat larger bird with a tail propor- 

 tionately longer. The length of wing varies from 4-4 to 4-0 inches, 

 and that of the tail from 2-95 to 2-7o. In all other respects, and 

 in the differences which are attributable to sex, age, and season, it 

 does not appear to differ from the preceding. An examination of a 

 larger series of these birds may prove that the difference between 

 this and tho preceding form is onlj^ subspecific. 



The Long-tailed Eastern Bluebird breeds in the tablelands of 

 Soiith Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, where it is supposed to 

 be resident. 



a. cJ ad. sk. Guatemala (O. Salvin). Henry Seebohm, Esq. [P.]. 



4. Sialia mexicaua. 



Sialia moxicana, Swaiyis. 8,- Rich. Faun. Bor.-Amer., Birds, p. 202 

 (1831) ; Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 184 (ISiVi, partiin) ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 298 

 (1850, partitn) ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 293; Baird, Cass. 8f 

 Lawr. B. N. Amer. p. 223 (1858, 2>urtim) ; Scl. Cat. Amer. B. 

 p. 11 (1862, 2}arti7n) ; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 230. no. .3313 (1869, 

 2virtim) ; Scl. Sf Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neutr. p. 4 (1873) ; Coues, 

 B. N. West, p. 14 (1874, partim) ; Baird, Brewer, ^- Ridgw. Hist. 

 N.-Amer. B. i. p. 65 (1874, partim) ; Coues, Birds Colorado Vail. 

 p. 80 (1878, partiin) ; Salv. Sr Godm. Biol. Centr.-Amcr. Zool., Aves, 

 i. p. 47 (1879, imrtim). 



In the adult male in hreeding-plumage the general colour of the 

 iipper parts is brilliant metallic indigo-blue ; lores, ear-coverts, 

 cheeks, chin, and upper throat dull blue, more or less suffused with 

 brown ; tho feathers of the upper back vary in individuals from 

 chestnut-brown to blue, obscurely tipped with chestnut-brown ; 

 greater wing-coverts, innermost secondaries, and the tips of the re- 

 maining secondaries, the primaries, tlie primaiy-coverts, and the 

 tail brown, the remaining portions of the wing and tail brilliant 

 metallic indigo-blue ; lower throat, breast, and flanks chestnut- 

 brown, shading into grey, more or less suffused vdih. blue on the 

 belly ; under tail-coverts, axillaries, and under wing-coverts pale 

 blue, with still paler tips ; inner margin of quills pale brown. 

 BiU blaclv. "Wings with the second, third, and fourth primaries 



