222 



U. S. p. E R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



SI ALIA SIALIS, Baird. 



Blue Bird ; Red-breasted Blue Bird. 



Motncilla sialls, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 1758, 187. — Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 989. 



Sylvia sialis, Latham, Index Cm. 11, 1790, 522. — Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 40 ; pi. ci, cii, ciii, (cT Q O.) — 



WiLsoK, Am. Orn. I, 1808, 56 ; pi. iii.— Doughty, Cab. N. H. I, 1830, 135 ; pi. 



xii.— Audubon, Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 84 : V, 1839, 452 ; pi. 113. 

 Saxicola sialis, Bonap. Synopsis, 1828. 

 Ampclis sialis, Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 444. 

 nubecula carolinensis caerulea, Brisson, Orn. Ill, 1760, 423. (Speaks of blue spots on throat.) — Buffon, Ois. VI, 



107 ; pi. enl. .396, f. I, 2. 

 Siulia loilsonii, Swainson, ZooI. Jour. Ill, 1827, 173. — Bonaparte, List, 1838. — Audubon, Synopsis, 1839, 84. — Ib. 



Birds Amer. II, 1841, 171 ; pi. 134. 

 Enjthraca {Sialia) uilsonii, Sw. & Rich. F. Eor. Am. II, 1831, 210. 



Sp. Ch. — Entire upper parts, including wings and tail, continuous and uniform azure blue ; the cheeks of a duller tint of the 

 same. Beneath reddish brown ; the abdomen, anal region, and under tail coverts white. Bill and feet black. Shafts of the 

 quills and tail feathers black. Female with the blue lighter, and tinged with brown on the head and back. Length, 6.75 ; 

 wing, 4.00; tail, 2.90. 



Hab. — Eastern North America to a little west of Missouri river Fort Laramie. 



The female is quite similar to the male, only duller ahove ; the blue tinged with brown, 

 although the wings, tail, and rump are generally light blue. The young male of the year has 

 the head and interscapular region, with the lesser coverts dull brown, streaked (except the 

 head) with white. The throat and fore breast are reddish brown, the feathers streaked with 

 white ; the remaining colors are much as in the adult male, except that the tertials are edged 

 with brown. 



There is much difference in the size and shape of the bill in specimens from the same locality. 



List of specimens. 



