I CA Ridgway, Geographical Variation in Sialia mexicana . I . u .. 



the lower parts are also chiefly blue (deep 'campanula'), fading 

 into pale bluish gray on lower belly and anal region and relieved 

 anteriorly by a large patch of chestnut extending from the sides 

 of the chest to the flanks, but posteriorly narrower and broken 

 by admixture of light grayish blue. 



That the type of S. mexicana (described from a specimen 

 "in Mr. Taylor's collection") came from some part of the .State 

 of Puebla, or immediately contiguous territory, is rendered prob- 

 able through the re-discovery near Charcas, by Mr. P. L. Jouy, 

 of Aphelocoma cyanotis, the type of which (without definite 

 locality) was also collected by Mr, Taylor. 1 



Females of this form may be at once distinguished from those 

 of 6". m. occidentalis and S. m. anabelce (which are much alike) 

 by the far deeper, more purplish blue of the upper parts, and 

 altogether more distinct and extended cinnamomeous color of 

 the under parts. They are also decidedly larger, especially in 

 length of winsf. 



2. Sialia mexicana occidentalis (Townsend). 

 Western Bluebird. 



Sialia occidentalis Towns. Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. VII, 1S37, 188 

 (Columbia R.). 2 — Aud. B. Am. II, 1S41, 176, pi. 135. — Nutt. Man. 

 2d ed. I, 1840, 513. — Heerm. Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. II, 1852, 

 264 (California). — Woodh. Sitgreave's Rep. 1S53, 68. — Henry, 

 Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. VII, 1S55, 310 (New Mexico). — Newb. 

 P. R. R. Rep. VI, 1857, So.— Seebohm, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. V, 

 1881, 332 (Pacific Coast U. S. to Rocky Mts., n. to Brit. Columb., 

 s. to Colorado basin). 



Sylvia occidentalis Aud. Biog. V, 1839, 4 X > P^ 393' 



1 Cf. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., — , — , — . 



2 "Description. Colour bright blue ; shoulders and lower part of breast, chestnut- 

 rufous ; chin and upper part of the breast, azure ; belly and vent faintly tinged with 

 blue. 



"Female and young, grayish, faintly tinged with blue, becoming brighter on the 

 rump, wings and tail ; beneath, pale rufous and gray. The bill is longer than that of 

 the common native [i. e., eastern] species, which it strongly resembles in many 

 respects. 



"Inhabits the plains of the Columbia River." (TOWNSEND, 1. c.) 



Townsend's types (adult male and female) are in the National Museum collection. 



