04 NORTH AMERICAN .BIltDS. 



out from their retreats, and aj^ain disappear on tlie return of severer weather. 

 Later in the season, or early in Marcli, they return and make a permanent 

 stay. 



When well treated, as the Rluehirds almost universally are, they retiirn 

 year after year to the same box, comin>j; always in pairs. The marked atten- 

 tions of the male bird are \ery striking, and have been noticed by all our 

 writers. He is very jealous of a ri\al, driving off every intruder of his own 

 species who ventures upon the domain he calls his own. Occasionally tlie 

 j)air suffer great annoyance from ve.vatious interferences with their domestic 

 arrangements by the house wren, wlio unceremoniously enters their home- 

 stead, desi)oils it of its carefully selected materials, and departs. At other 

 times the wren will take possession of the jjremises and barricade the en- 

 trance, making the return of its rightful owners impossilde. 



The song of the lUuebirds is a low warl)lo, soft and agreeal)le, repeated 

 with great constancy and earnestness, and i)rolonged until (piite late in the 

 season. Just before their departure, late in October, the spriglitline.ss of 

 their song nearly ceases, and only a few plaintive notes are heard instead. 



Tiie fotkd of the Uluebird consists principally of the smaller coleopterous 

 insects, also of the larva? of the smaller lepidoptera. In the early .spring 

 they are very bu.sy turning over the dry leaves, examining the trunks and 

 branches of trees, or ransacking posts and fences for the hiding-places of 

 their prey. In the fall their food jiartakes more of a vegetable character. 



The lUuebird selects as a suitable place for its nest a hollow in the de- 

 cayed trunk of a tree, or boxes prepared for its use. Their early arrival 

 enables them to select their own site. The nest is loosely con.structed of 

 soft materials, such as fine gras.ses, sedges, leaves, hair, feathers, etc. These 

 are rarely so well wo\'en together as to bear removal. The eggs are usually 

 five and sometimes six in number. There are usually three broods in a 

 season. Before the first bnjod are able to ])rovide for themselves, the female 

 repairs her nest and commences incultation for a second family. The young 

 birds aie, however, Ijy no means left to shift for themselves. Tlie male bird 

 now.sliows himself iis devoted a jiarent as in the earlier spring he had proved 

 liin.self an atteutive mate. lie watches over the brood even after the second 

 family appears and claims his attention. We often find him dividing his 

 cares in the latter part of the sea.son with two broods, and at the same 

 time supplying his mule with food, and occa.sionally taking her ;'.ace on 

 the nest. 



Tlie eggs of tlie Bluebird are of a uniform ;mle blue, measuring about .81 

 of an inch in lengtli by .(!2 m laeadtii. 



In (J'latemala is found a local race differing in its lighter under colors and 

 in the gI^'enisll tiuting of its blue (.S*. nzitrca). The (S'. Hidlia is also f(»uiid in 

 the more o])en districts of the elevated regions where it is numerous. It is 

 there known Uii " Kl uzuUjo." 



