GENUS 43. SYLVIA. WARBLER. 

 SPECIES 1. S. SMLIS. 



BLUE-BIRD. 

 [Plate III. -Fig. 3.] 



Le Rouge gorge bleu, BUFFON, v, 212, PL Enl 390. Blue-War- 

 bier, LATH, n, 446. CATESB. i, 47. Motacilla sialis, LINN. 

 Syst. 336. BARTRAM, p. 291. PEALE'S Museum, No. 7188.* 



THE pleasing manners and sociable disposition of this little 

 bird entitle him to particular notice. As one of the first messen- 

 gers of spring, bringing the charming tidings to our very doors, 

 he bears his own recommendation always along with him, and 

 meets with a hearty welcome from every body. 



Though generally accounted a bird of passage, yet so early 

 as the middle of February, if the weather be open, he usually 

 makes his appearance about his old haunts, the barn, orchard 

 and fenceposts. Storms and deep snows sometimes succeeding, 

 he disappears for a time; but about the middle of March is again 

 seen, accompanied by his mate, visiting the box in the garden, or 

 the hole in the old apple-tree, the cradle of some generations of 

 his ancestors. "When he first begins his amours," says a curious 

 and correct observer, " it is pleasing to behold his courtship, his 

 " solicitude to please and to secure the favour of his beloved female. 

 66 He uses the tenderest expressions, sits close by her, caresses 

 " and sings to her his most endearing warblings. When seated 

 " together, if he espies an insect delicious to her taste, he takes 



* Motacilla sialis, LINN. Syst. i, p. 187, Ed. 10. GMEL. Syst. i, p. 989. Syl- 

 via sialis, LATH. Ind. Orn. ir, 522. VIEILLOT, Ois. de VAin. Sept- pi. 101, male; 

 102, female; 103, young.Lo Gorge rouge de la Caroline, BUFF. PI, EnL 396, 

 fig, 1, male; fig. 2, female. 



