BLUE-GRAY GNATCATOlIEll. 6C9 



HABITS. 



The Ruby-crow lied Kiiiiilets are the most common birds of Florid i duriiiu- winter, 

 arriving from the North about t'.ie first of Deceml)er, scattering through the hannnocks 

 all over the state, even as far south ;is Key West, and they may occasionallv l>e found in 

 company with other birds, but are gener illy independent ; indeed, I tliink they seldom 

 pay any attention to the movements of even their ov/n companions; each pursues a course 

 agreeable to itself They cui therefore liardlv be called "reiiarious at this season, beiu"- 

 equally numerous in every wooded locality, unless we choose to consider all which are in 

 Florida as constituting one vast Hock. They move about among the luxuriant growth of 

 trees and shrubs in a manner which plainly indicates that they are at home. They seem 

 to be always busily engaged in searching for insects upon the branches, yet will pause to 

 gaze inquisitively at a stranger. They are not noisy at such times, and although very 

 abundant, one who is not a naturalist would scarcely notice them, for they come without 

 bustle, remain in the seclusion offered Iiy tlie hamniocks, quietly pursuing their avocations, 

 then, by the middle of March, retire northward as silently as they came. 



When pa.ssing Massachusetts in early April they behave far diflerently, for thev are 

 then full of activity, and if any one chances to enter the wood through which they are mi- 

 grating they will scold at him most vociferously. The males are also full of nielodv, and 

 their musical efllbrts most certainly do them credit, for their song consists of a full, clear 

 warble, which excels that of many of our native species. They linger here, frequenting 

 the groves and thickets, until the latter part of the month, when they have all passed to 

 the north. 



The breeding place of this species was for a long time, unknown, but now we know 

 that they breed in similar places as the Golden-crowned. T found the birds very abundant 

 at Bethel, Maine, on the 12th of October, 18f58, but by the 22d they had all disappeared. 

 They enter Massachusetts in autumn, about the first week of the above named mouth, but 

 have left for the south by the 30th. 



GENUS. POLIOPTILA. THE GNATCATCHERS. 



Gen. Ch. Sternum much narrower and proportionately longer than in the preceding genus ; the mar- 

 ginal indentations are also shallower. The frontal feathers do not cover the nostrils. The tarsi are scutel- 

 late. The tail is rounded, whereas in Regulus it is square and emarginate. All the species in this genus 

 are of small size, with delicate blue colors above and silvery white below. 



POLiOPTILA CAERULEA. 

 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher- 



Polioptila caerulea Sclater, Proceedings Zool. Soc. 1855, 11. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Form, slender. Size, small. Bill, rather broad at base, acuminate : and with the upper man- 

 dible a little curved at the tip, where it is slightly notched. Sternum, rather stoutly built. Tongue, linear, 

 with the end rounded and finely ciliated ; there are also some minute cilia on the sides for one-third of the 

 terminal length. Colok. Adult male. Above, uniform slaty blue ; brightest on the head, and lightest on 



