142 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



If it is a question of beauty of coloring, no 

 other bird may hope to surpass to human eyes 

 this little bit of heaven's blue, with his soft, 

 tawny breast and clear white underparts. 



He comes to us rather late in May from the 

 Southern land, where he spends his winters, and 

 may occasionally be seen about suburban houses 

 and orchards before he has found his nesting- 

 place. Once seen, he will always be recognized 

 and remembered. 



His song is vivacious, varied, well artic- 

 ulated, and sweet. I have heard one say over 

 and over, " Here ! here ! why-e, don't you come 

 here ? " 



The female carries no such wealth of color as 

 her companion and cannot answer him with his 

 free song. 



PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. Male : Head, neck and 

 upper parts, turquoise, or azure-blue ; the back, darker 

 and duller ; distinct white wing-bar, sometimes a second 

 fainter one ; breast (sometimes sides), tawny ; abdomen, 

 white. 



Female : Duller grayish-brown on back, tinged with 

 bluish on rump ; breast, pale buff. 



Summer resident. 



