POLIOPTILA P. OERULEA . 101 



of which widen toward their rounded ends. Bill shorter than 

 head, straight, broad and depressed at base, rapidly narrow- 

 ing to the very slender terminal portion, distinctly notched and 

 hooked at the end thus muscicapine in character. Rictus 

 with well developed bristles. Nostrils entirely exposed. 



This is a small group of one genus and about a dozen species, 

 confined to America, chiefly developed in Central and South 

 America. It may not be well placed in the Sylviiclce, but is 

 better off here than among the Paridcc, where it is put by some. 

 I should not be surprised if its closest relationships were with 

 the true Muscicapidce of the Old World. 



Genus POLIOPTILA Sclater 



CHARS. To the foregoing add: Coloration grayish-blue, 

 white below, without red or yellow on head ; tail black, bor- 

 dered with white. 



The three North American species occur in the Colorado 

 region, two of them, in fact, being characteristic of this part of 

 the country. They are diminutive birds, of great energy and 

 activity, expert in flycatching, inhabiting woodland, migratory, 

 and musical though the ordinary call-note is a sharp squeak. 



Blue-gray Gnat catcher 



Polioptila ceernlea 



Motacilla caerulea, L. SN. i. 1766, 317 (Edw. Glean, pi. 302). 



Sylvia caerulea, Lath. 10. ii. 1790, 540, no. 121. 



Culicivora C3erulea, ?D'Orb. Ois Cuba, 1839,90. Brew. Pr. Bost. Soc. vii. 1860, 306 (Cuba). 

 Hoy, Smiths. Rep. for 1864, 1865, 437. 



Sylvania caerulea, Nutt. Man. 2d ed. i. 1840, 337. 



Polioptilacserulea, Scl. PZ3. 1855, ILXant. Pr. Phila Acad. xi 1859, 191 (California). Barn. 

 Smiths. Rep. for 1360, 1861,437. fid. Rev. AB. 1861, 74. Dress. Ibis, 1865, 485 (Texas). 

 Coues, IbK 1865, 538 (Arizona). Coues, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 66 (Arizona). Co ues, 

 Pr. Essex lust. v. 1868, 268 Crues, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii. 1868, 107. Butch. Pr. Phila. 

 Acad. xx. 18(58, 149 (Texas). Mayn. B. Fla. 1872, 28. Scott, Pr. Boat. Soc. xv. 1872, 

 2-21 (Virginia). Allen, Am. Nat. vi. 1872, 269. Brewer, Am. Nat. vi. 1872, 4Qt. Ridg. 

 Bull. Ess. In*t. v. 1873, 179. Merr. Am. Nat. viii. 1874, 8. B. B. ff R. NAB. i. 1874, 78, 

 pi. 6, f 5. Brew. Pr. Bost. Soc. xvii. 187.">, 45\.Hensh. List B. Ariz. 1875, 155. Hensh. 

 Z>ol. Expl. W. 100 Merid. 1&76, 166 (Arizona). 



Motacilla caerulea, Gm. SN. i. 1788, 992, no. 43. 



Culicivora caerutea, Bp. CA. i. 1850, zifi.Gundl. J. f. 0. 1861, 407 /Cuba). 



Polioptila caerulea, Scl. PZS. 1859, 363 (Xalapa). Gfn<H. J. f. O. 1861, 324 (Cuba) ; 1872, 

 4(19 (Cuba). 



llUSCicapa eoerulea, Bp. Journ. Phila. Acad. iv. 1824, 172. Gamb. Journ. Phila. Acad. i. 

 1847, 38. 



Culicivora ecerulea, And. BA. i. 1840, 244, pi. lO. Woodh. Sitgreave's Rep. 1853, 67. Henry, 

 Pr. Phila. Acad. vii. 1855, 309 (New Mexico). Putn. Pr. Essex lust. i. 1856, 206. 



