78 NORTH AMEEICAN BIRDS. 



extent on the exterior of the tail, the rest of which is black. Very diminu- 

 tive in size (but little over four inches long). 



Synopsis of Species. 



Top of head ])lumbeous. 

 Two outer tail-feathers entirely white. A. narrow frontal line, extending back 



over the eye, black. Hab. North America ...... P. c(BruJea> 



Outer tail-feather, with the whole of the outer web (only), white. No black on 



the forehead, but a stripe over the eye above one of whitish. Hah. Arizona. 



P. 2)h(7ribea. 

 Top of head black. 



Edge only of outer web of outer tail-feather white. Entire top of head from the 



bill black. Hab. Rio GTrande and Gila ...... P. melanura. 



Species occur over the whole of America. One, P. Icmhcyi, is peculiar to 

 Cuba, and a close ally of P. cwridea. 



Polioptila cserulea, Sclat. 



BLTJE-GRAY GNATCATCHER; EASTERN GNATCATCHER. 



Ilotacilla cmrulea, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 337 (h?i^&dt. on Motncilla imrva coer idea, Edw. 



tab. 302). Cidicivora ccerulea, Cab. Jour. 1855, 471 (Cuba). — Gundlach, Repert. 



1865, 231. Polioptila ccertdea, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, 11. — Baird, Birds N; Am. 



1858, 380. — Ib. Rev. 74. —Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 231. — Cooper, Birds Cal. I, 35. 



Motacilla cana, Gm. S. N. I, 1788, 973. ? Culicivora mexicana, Bon. Consp. 1850, 316 



(not of Cassin), female. Polioptila mexicana, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, 363, 373. 

 Figures : Vieill. Ois. II, pi. Ixxxviii. — Wilson, Am. Orn. II, pi. xviii, fig. 3. — Aud. 



Orn. Biog. I, pi. Ixxxiv ; Ib. Birds Am. I, pi. Ixx. 



Sp. Char. Above grayish-blue, gradually becoming bright blue on the crown. A 

 narrow frontal band of black extending backwards over the eye. Under parts and lores 

 bluish-white tinged with lead-color on the sides. First and second tail-feathers white 

 except at the extreme base, which is black, the color extending obliquely forward on 

 the inner web ; tliird and fourth black, with white tip, very slight on the latter ; fifth and 

 sixth entirely black. Upper tail-coverts blackish-plumbeous. Quills edged externally 

 with pale bluish-gray, which is much broader and nearly white on the tertials. Female 

 without any black on the head. Length, 4.30 ; wing, 2.15; tail, 2.25. (Skin.) 



Hab. Middle region of United States, from Atlantic to Pacific, and south to Guatemala ; 

 Cape St. Lucas. Cuba, Gundlach and Bryant. Bahamas, Bryant. 



Habits. The Blue-gray Flycatcher is a common species from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific coast, although not met with in the New England States. It 

 is less abundant on the coast than at a distance from it, and has a more 

 northern range in the interior, being met with in Northern Oliio, Michigan, 

 and the British Provinces. Specimens occur in the Smithsonian Institution 

 collection from New York to Mexico and Guatemalaj and from Washington 

 Territory to California. 



They appear in Pennsylvania early in May, and remain there until the 

 last of September. They are observed in Florida and Georgia early in 



