SYLVIID^E. XX. 49 



FAMILY XIX. SAXICOLIDJE. 



(The Stone Cfaits.) 



Characters similar to those of the Thrushes, but the 

 wings longer and very much pointed, reaching, when 

 folded, beyond the middle of the short tail. Tarsus 

 "booted;" first primary spurious. A family scarcely 

 distinct from Turdidce, of about twelve genera and one 

 hundred species. They are chiefly Old World birds, but 

 two genera occurring in America. Ours are rather small 

 (less than seven), with oval nostrils and bristles about 

 the rictus. 



* Chiefly or partly blue ; tarsus not longer than middle toe and 

 claw; bill stout SIALIA, 1. 



/. SIALIA, Swainson. BLUE BIRDS. 



1. S. sialis, (L.) Haldeman. COMMON BLUE BIRD. 

 Bright blue above, throat and breast reddish brown, 

 belly white; $ usually duller with a brownish tinge on 

 back; young, as in others, spotted; L. 6f ; W. 4; T. 3. 

 E. N. Am., abundant; breeds every where. 



2. S. mexicana, Sw. WESTERN BLUE BIRD. Head, 

 neck all around and upper parts generally, blue; back 

 with more or less chestnut; breast and sides reddish 

 brown, otherwise bluish below; size of last. Pacific 

 Slope, E. to Iowa (accidental.) 



3. S. arctica, Sw. ROCKY MOUNTAIN BLUE BIRD. 

 Rich greenish blue; belly white; $ with pale drab, 

 instead of blue, on breast, etc.; size of others, or smaller. 

 Central Table lands chiefly, E. to Missouri R. 



FAMILY XX. SYLVIIDJE. 



(The Sylvias.) 



Primaries 10, the first short but scarcely spurious. 

 Bill slender, depressed at base, notched and decurved at 

 3 



