THE BLUE-BIRD. 177 



Its song is a soft pleasing warble, which is often repeated, 

 and is uttered by the bird both when flying and perching. 

 In capturing insects, it has many of the habits of the Fly- 

 catchers. It remains perching on a post or twig until its 

 prey shows itself, when it suddenly flies at it flapping 

 its wings rapidly, seizes it, and returns to its perch to eat 

 it. It often descends quickly, and seizes a grasshopper that 

 is crawling on a straw or weed ; and, if it misses its aim, 

 even follows it while flying. 



About the last week of October, the parents and young 

 leave in a detached flock for the South. 



