660 HISTORY OF THE 



ter, the blue of the head, neck, back arid breast obscured by grayish brown tips 

 to the feathers.) Adult female: Above, brownish gray, the primaries dull light 

 blue, the rump, upper tail coverts and tail, bright or greenish blue; beneath, 

 light grayish brown, the belly and under tail coverts white; a whitish orbital 

 ring. (In winter, colors deeper, especially on lower parts.) Young: Quills and 

 tail feathers as in adults; above, grayish brown, the back usually streaked with 

 white; beneath, grayish white, the breast and sides mottled with grayish brown. 

 (Ridgway.) 



Stretch of 



Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 7.15 13.50 4.50 3.00 .85 .52 



Female 6.90 13.00 4.30 2.80 .85 .50 



Iris brown; bill, legs, feet and claws blackish. 



These birds of the central regions are very similar in habits 

 to our common Bluebird, but more wary and silent. Even their 

 love song is less loud and musical. A rather feeble, plaintive, 

 monotonous warble, and their chirp and twittering notes are 

 weak. They subsist upon the cedar berries, seeds of plants, 

 grasshoppers, beetles, etc., which they pick up largely upon the 

 ground, and occasionally scratch for, among the leaves. Dur- 

 ing the fall and winter, they visit the plains .and valleys, and are 

 usually met with in small flocks, until the mating season. They 

 are great lovers and attentive parents. 



I have found them nesting in New Mexico and Colorado, 

 from the foothills to near timber line, usually in deserted Wood- 

 pecker holes, natural cavities in trees, fissures in the sides of 

 steep, rocky cliffs, and, in the settlements, in suitable locations 

 about and in the adobe buildings. Their nests are lined with 

 fine grasses, or most any suitable rnaterial at hand. In locali- 

 ties where sheep are raised, wool is freely used. Eggs usually 

 four or five, ,85x.65; pale greenish blue; in form, oval. 



