686 



BLUE BIKD. 



abdomen is purer, while the under tail coverts are strongly tinged with buff. Nestling liluinage of male- 

 Tail and wings like the young in autumn, The remainder of upper surface dull reddish brown, streaked 

 with whitisht two rows of coverts are also tipped with it, forming bars across the wings. Under portions, 

 whitish, with' the feathers of the throat, bi-east and flanks edged with brownish red. Tibiae, white. Female 

 in nestling plumage, similar to the male, hut with colors paler. Irides,brown. Bill and feet, black in both 

 sexes, and in all stages of plumage, 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 There are two western representatives of this siieoies (mexicana ami arctica ), but it may be disting- 

 uished from them by its uniformly blue liack, combined with the red breast and throat ; althovigh I have seen 

 specimens of sialis having a blue throat, which closely approached some specimens of mexicana. Females of 

 mexicana are paler than of sialis. Specimens found breeding in Florida are not only smaller in size, but 

 darker in color throughout, than those from New England. This species has a wide distribution, extending 

 from latitude 46 degrees, south to the extreme limits of the main land of Florida, and west to about longitude 

 102 degrees. They winter in the Southern States and occasionally in Cuba. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Length, 6.^1 to 7.70 ; stretch, 11.4<.) to 13. •_'."> ; wing, A.So to 4.2(.) ; tail, 2.85 to 3. 1-5 ; bill, .50 to .55 ; tarsus' 

 .70 to ,82. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS, 

 Nests, built usually in holes of trees or stubs, and composed of dried grasses, smoothly arranged. They 

 are rather shallow. External diameter, 4 inches ; internal, 2.5(j inches. External depth, 2 inches ; internal, 

 1 inch. Eggs, usually five in number, oval in form, pale blue in color, varying somewhat in shade even in 

 the same nest. Dimensions, from .GS by .SO to .62 by .75. There is no perceptible difference in size or 

 color between those taken in Florida and in New England. 



HABITS. 



The first whistle of the Blue Birds is heard in Massaehusetts in early March, when 

 the snows of winter still linger in tlie valleys ; but when we hear their mellow notes we 

 know that warm weather is approaching, i'ov the instincts of these harbingers of spring are 

 rarely at fault. They are seen in small Hocks upon their arrival, and frequent orchards, 

 fields, and meadows, where they catch a large number of insects, alighting on the ground 

 for this purpose, but when one is captured they fly to the top of a stake or fence to eat it. 

 These birds are very useful in destroying injurious insects; subsisting almost exclusively 

 upon them. Out of forty-seven speciinen.s, which I have dissected, the .stomachs of thirty- 

 eight contained insectivorous food alone"; five taken when the ground was partly frozen, 

 in early spring, had eaten dried barberries and insects, while the remaining three had 

 taken berries only. 



They continue in tlocks until the first of April, when they pair, and by the middle of 

 the month begin to breed. A hole in an old apple tree, or the deserted nest of a Wood- 

 pecker, is usually selected for an abode ; but sometimes they will make their homes in 

 Martin-boxes. If a box chances to be occupied by some White-bellied Swallows or House 

 Wrens, and a pair of Blue Birds take a fancy to it, they coolly expel the owner.^ in .spite 

 of their noisy remonstrances, and appiopriate the nest within to their own use. Some- 

 times they will select an aperture in a building as a breeding place, or a knot hole in a 

 b.oUow fence post, and if undisturbed will return to such places season after season. I once 



