SIALIA AROTICA. 403 



Bend. Although these birds appeared to have been bred at that locality, 

 and though we saw an equally small number in the similar valley of the 

 Carson River in the breeding-season, the center of abundance of the species, 

 so far as the Interior is concerned, seemed to be the pine-region of the 

 Sierra Nevada, where they were observed in summer from the lower limit 

 of these forests up to an altitude of more than 6,000 feet, or near the summit 

 of Donner Lake Pass, where these Blue-birds, the Robin, the Oregon Snow- 

 bird, and the Western White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotriehia intermedia) were 

 the characteristic or dominant species. 



This beautiful Blue-bird seemed to be a perfect counterpart of the 

 eastern species (S. sialis) in its habits, while it resembled it closely in 

 appearance ; but we listened in vain for that lovely warbling which so 

 justly renders the latter bird a universal favorite ; neither did we hear it 

 utter any note comparable to the plaintive call of the eastern bird, so often 

 heard in autumn. This lack of sweetness of voice is, however, somewhat 

 compensated by its superior beauty of plumage, for the richness of its 

 coloring is decidedly superior to that of its eastern i-epresentative. 

 List of specimens. 



413, <5 (id.; Carson City, Nevada, February 21, 1868. 7— 13— 4i— 3if Bill, 

 tarsi, aud toes, deep black ; iuterior of inoutb, cln'ome-yellow ; iris, bister. 



414, S ad.; same locality aud date. 7J — 13J — 4.J — 3|. Same remarks. 



428, <5 ad.; Sau Fraucisco, Calitbruia; H. G. Parker. ("Oaks.") "7— 13— (?) 

 — 3i^." Same remarks. 



469, $ ad.; C.irsou City, Marcb 28. C^— 124— 4-^%— 3-^%. Same remarks. 



SlALIA AKCTICA. 



Kocky ITIoiiiitaiii Blue-bird. 



Sialia arctica, Swains., Fauua Bor. Am., II, 1831, 20'J, pi. 39. — Bated, B. N. Am., 

 1858, 224; Cat. N. Am. B., 1859, No. 160; Review, 1864, 04.- B. B. & R., 

 Hist. N. Am. B., I, 1874, 67, pi. V, fig. 4.— Cooper, Oru. Cal., 29 — Coues, 

 Key, 1872, 76; Check List, 1873, No. 18; B. N.W., 1874, 14.— IIenshaw, 

 1875, 162. 



This is the characteristic Blue-bird of the Interior, and it is most numer- 

 ous where the other species is rarest. Its favorite haunts are the higher por- 

 tions of the desert ranges of the Great Basin, where there is little water, and 

 no timber other than the ixsual scant groves of stunted cedars, pinon, or 



