ZOOLOGY. 173 



descending. It is commonly heard in the tops of the trees, and in summer only in tlie densest 

 of forests. In winter they associate with the robins, and feed much on the ground, sometimes 

 coming around houses iu cold weather. — C. 



Obtained at Port Townsend, Puget Sound, and at Belliugham Bay. Common at Astoria, 

 0. T. Does not seem to extend verj' far inland, as it was not seen by me at Fort Steilacoom. 

 In winter it is a shy bird, not generally becoming noticeable in the open districts until after a 

 fall of snow, when many individuals may be seen along the sand beaches near salt water. They 

 are at such times tame and abundant, at least sufficiently so for any ordinary shot to obtain a 

 dozen specimens in a forenoon. I suppose that they are driven out of the woods during the 

 heavy snows b}' hunger. It may then frequently be found in company with the common robin, 

 M'ith which it has many similar habits. It was during the continuance of a rather heavy fall 

 of snow that I obtained the three specimens preserved. In my note book I find the following- 

 remark: "At this time of the year it is a very silent bird, quite tame, allowing near approach; 

 flying up when the intruder comes too near, but alighting on the ground again at a short distance 

 in front. It appears to be fond of flying by short stages in a desultory manner, sometimes 

 alighting on the ground; at others on fences, bushes, or trees. The settlers here (at Port 

 Townsend) call them spotted, painted, and golden robins."' The most conspicuous mark on 

 the bird which strikes the eye at first is the black crescent on the fore part of the breast. — S. 



Sub-Family SAXICOLINAE.— R ockT brushes. 



SIALIA MEXICAN A, Swain son. 

 Western Blue-Bird. 



Sialia mcxicana, Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 202. — Baird, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 223. 



Sialia occidentalis, Townsend, Jour. Ac. Nat. So. VII, ii, 1837, 188. — Ib. Narrative, 1839, 343. — Ano. Synopsis 

 1839.— Ib. Birds America, II, 1841, 176; pi. 135.— Ndttall, Man. I, {2d cd.,) 1840, 513.— 

 Newberrv, Zool. Cal. & Or. Route, 80; Rep. P. R. R., VI, iv, 1857. 



Sylvia occulenlalis, Audubon, Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 41; pi 393. 



Sialia caeruleocollis, Vigors, Zool. Beechey's Voyage, 1839, 18; pi. iii. 



Sp. Ch. — Bill slender; head and neck all round, and upper parts generally, bright azure blue. Interscapular regions, sides, 

 and fore part of the breast, and sides of the belly, dark reddish brown. Rest of under parts (with tail coverts) pale bluish, 

 tinged with gray about the anal region. Femile duller above; the back brownish; the blue of the throat replaced by ashy 

 brown, with a shade of blue. Length, 6.50 to 7 inches; extent, 12j to 13; wing, 4.25; tail, 2 90. Iris, brown; bill and feet, 

 black. 



Hii6. — Pacific coast, North America, and along valley of Gila to Upper Rio Grande and south. 



The western blue-bird, tiiough very similar to the common eastern species, has not that 

 familiar confidence which makes the latter such a ftivorite. It seems to prefer the knot holes 

 of the oaks to any box or similar shelter provided for it, but may, when trees are scarcer, 

 become more dependent on man. It also differs in its song, which is not so loud as sweet, and 

 is curiously performed to sound as if two birds were singing at once and in different keys. Its 

 call note is also shorter than that of the eastern bird. 



Most of this species probably remain during the winter in tJie Territory, as I have seen them 

 in December and earlv in Starch. They then associate in flocks, which frequent roadsides and 

 fences, feeding on insects or berries. They have the same mode of hovering over a field, to 

 watch for grasshoppers, <fec., that we see in the eastern species. — C. 



This bird is exceedingly common ip Oregon and Washington Territory. At Fort Steilacoom 



