BIRDS OF PENNSYL VANIA. 323 



SUBFAMILY POLIOPTILIN-ffi. GNATCATCHEES. 



GENUS POLIOPTILA SCLATER. 

 Polioptila caerulea (LINN.). 



Blue-gray Gnat catcher. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Bill long and slender much depressed at base, distinctly notched at end and 

 slightly hooked ; bill anterior to the exposed nostrils rapidly narrows, and becomes 

 very slender at tip ; the round wings are about equal to tail ; tail graduated, feathers 

 with rounded ends. Length about 5 inches ; extent about 6f ; bill and legs black- 

 jsh ; eyes dark brown. Above grayish-blue ; crown decidedly blue, rump some- 

 what lighter than back ; forehead and line over eye black (absent in female) ; whit- 

 ish ring round eye. Lores and under parts pale bluish-white, except chin and me- 

 dian line on throat, and abdomen also in some specimens, pure white. First and 

 second pairs of tail-feathers black at base then white ; third and fourth black with 

 white tips, rest black. 



Habitat. Middle and southern portions of the United States, from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific, south, in winter, to Guatemala, Cuba and the Bahamas ; rare north 

 toward the Great Lakes, southern New York and southern New England, straggling 

 north to Massachusetts and Maine. 



The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher occurs as a summer resident in the south- 

 ern parts of Pennsylvania. Arrives here about the last week in April 

 and remains until about the middle of September. I have observed 

 this bird in the southeastern counties as a rare visitor, in the spring, 

 late summer and autumn. In southwestern Pennsylvania the gnat- 

 catcher is reported to be a rather frequent summer resident. Messrs. 

 M. Compton, W. T. Warrick and James S. Nease, all report it as being 

 rather common during migrations in Washington county, and they also 

 mention it as a probable breeder. Dr. T. Z. Hazzard, of Allegheny 

 City, informs me it breeds regularly in his locality (Allegheny county). 

 The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Mr. H. J. Roddy says, " is common at one 

 place near Lebo, Perry county. I find them breeding there every year ; 

 saw a family August 10, on Jack's mountain." I found this bird to be 

 quite common in February, March and the early part of April in 

 Florida. Its food consists entirely of small-winged insects and various 

 larvae. "It is an expert insect-catcher, taking its prey on the wing with 

 great celerity. All its movements are very rapid, the bird seeming to 

 be constantly in motion as if ever in quest of insects, moving from one 

 part of the tree to the other, but generally preferring the upper 

 branches " (Hist. N. Am. Birds). Never having had the good fortune 

 to find the nest or eggs of this species, I take the following descriptions 

 concerning the same from other writers. " The nest of this species is 

 one of the gems of bird architecture. It is a very compact mass of 

 soft felted materials, elaborately and artistically ornamented on the out- 

 side with gray and glaucous lichens, the deep interior cavity lined with 

 softest down and feathers. The shape varies from that of a deep cup 



