THE BLUE-BIRD. 



197 



species. Learned ornithologists have referred our bird without hesi- 

 tation to the Fiery-crested Wren, with which, however, it only agrees 

 in the brilliancy of the crown ; and, instead of being less, is indeed 

 larger than the true Golden -crested species. Like the former, they 

 appear associated only in pairs, and are seen on their southern 

 route, in part of Massachusetts, a few days in October, and about the 

 middle of the month, or a little earlier or later according to the set 

 ting in of the season, as they appear to fly before the desolating 

 Btorms of the northern regions, whither they retire about May to 

 breed. Some of these birds remain in Pennsylvania until December 

 or January, proceeding probably but little farther south during the 

 winter. They are not known to reside in any part of New England, 

 retiring to the remote and desolate limits of the farthest north. 



THE BLUE-BIRD. 



This well known and familiar favorite inhabits almost the whole 



eastern side of the 

 continent of Amer- 

 ica, from the 48th 

 parallel to the very 

 line of the tropics. 

 Some appear to mi- 

 grate in winter to 

 the Bermudas and 

 Brahama islands, 

 though most of those 

 which pass the sum- 

 mer in the North 

 only retire to the 

 Southern States, or 

 the table land of 

 Mexico. In South 

 Carolina and Georgia 

 they were abundant 

 in January and Feb- 

 ruary, and even on 

 the 12th and 28th of 

 the former month, 

 the weather being 

 mild, a few of these 

 wanderers warbled 



out their simple notes from the naked limbs of the long-leaved 

 pines. Sometimes they even pass the winter in Pennsylvania, or 

 at least make their appearance with almost every relenting of the 

 severity of the winter or warm gleam of thawing sunshine. From 

 this circumstance of their roving about in quest of their scanty food, 

 like the hard-pressed and hungry Robin Red-breast, who by degrees 

 gains such courage from necessity, as to enter the cottage for hia 



