-•'K, THE MOUNTAIN BLUEBIFlD. 



scapulars inuiise-Kray tinged with grccnisli-l)liic ; oiiti-r i-dgc of first primary and 

 ontcr wel) of oiitcrniost rcctrix, liasally, while; a whitish nrhital ring; ui)di-r])arts 

 tiiifjcd with pall' lirownish jjray failing to whili- pfott-riorly. J'iikik/ /'in/.v snmi-- 

 what ri'si-nililc the adult female hut are even duller; the hlue of rump and upper 

 tail-coverts is replaced liy ashy gray; the hack is streaked with white; the throat 

 and jugulum are pale gray indistinctly streaked with wliitish ; chest, sides and 

 flanks hroadly streaked with drah. each feather having a white center. Length 

 7.00 ( 177.8) or over; wing 4.^0 (117); tail 2.83 (72); hill .53 (13.4); tarsus 

 .8<^ (22.6». 



Recognition Marks. — Sjiarrow size; azure hlue coloration of male ami 

 hluish-gray and azure of female unmistakahle. 



Nesting. — .V('.v/; much as in i)receding species. Eggs: usually 3. uniform 

 pale hlue sometimes very light hluish white, rarely ])ure white. .\v. size, .80 x .60 

 ( 20.3 X 15.2). Si-ason: May, June; two hnwds. 



General Range. — Mountain districts of western North .\merica north to the 

 Mackenzie and Yukon Territory, hreeding eastward to the I'llack Hills and 

 western Texas, westward to the Cascade-Sierras, southward to the higher ranges 

 of .\rizona. New Mexico and Chihuahua, in winter irregularly eastward upon the 

 dreat ]>lains and southward to snuthern California. I,r>wer California, etc. 



Range in Washington. — Summer resident in the Cascade Mountains chiefly 

 >>n the eastern slo])cs ( l)ut west to Mt. Rainier); common during migrations and 

 irregularly resident in summer u|)on lower levels east of the Cascades ( W'alhila. 

 .May 15, 11)07. hreeding). 



Migrations. — Spriuij: Chelan. I'eh. 24, 181/1; Concomuilly, March 15. i8<>6; 

 Alit.inum, M.irch 13, irpo. 



Authorities.— .S"i(i/irt dn/iV,; Brewster, 1'.. N. < ). C. \ II. Oct. 1882. y. 227. 

 T. I.'. D'. I)--. Ss'. J. 



Specimens. — P'. I'rov. C. 



.\ BIT of heaven's hlue incarnate! We shall not stoj) to chide this ex- 

 quisite creature that he does not sing. Wliy should he' It is enough to 

 inspire song. 



The sky has not fallen this heauliful morn. 

 But here is its messenger conie to adorn 

 For a nionieiit mir wayside, and bring to our sight 

 Tn svnihol of azure, a vision of right. 



So hiipefid. cont'iding. thou hrnve niouiit;iineer. 

 Thou hringest t'> .\pril a niighly good cheer. 

 Chill winter is vanrpiished, his rigors forgot. 

 The Lord is on earth. — what else, matters not. 



The Miiunlain Bluehird is of regular occurrence hut of very irregular 

 distrihntion in eastern Washington, aiul is scarcely known west of the Cas- 

 cades. John Fannin found it in British C'olunihia "west occasionallv, to 

 Chilliwack, and other |K>inls on the lower Fraser : also X'anci'uver Island." hut 



