68 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



and raonotonou8 song tlian that of tlio common Bluebird, and tliat it has the 

 same warbling tone and manner. He afterwards observed the same species 

 in the winter, at Tort Vancf)uver, a.ssociating with tlic Western lUuebird. 



J)r. Woudhou.se Inun;! the Arctic 15hiebird (juite common in the vicinity 

 of Santa Fe, in \ew Mexico, wliere tliey l)recd about tlie houses in boxes put 

 II}) lor them by the inhabitants for the i)urpose. 



Mr. Townsend found this species in the vicinity of the Platte IJiver, near 

 the lUack Hills, and also on tlie banks of the ("ohnnbia. They confined 

 themselves to the fences in the neighborhood of settlements, occasionally 

 lighting upon the groiuid and scratching for minute insects. lie describes 

 their song as a delightful warble. Its notes resendile those of the common 

 Bluebird, but are so different as to be easily recognized ; they are ec^ually 

 sweet and clear, but have nnich less power. 



Neither Dr. (land)cl nor Dr. licermaiin found ihis .sj-ecies in California 

 excepting during tlie winter, and were of the o[iinion that none remain there 

 to breed. 



Dr. Kennerly observed them at different ])oints among the liocky Moun- 

 tains, where tliev frecpuMited tht; vicinity of his camp early in the morning, 

 at .some times in pairs and at others in flocks of four or five. 



Mr. J. K. Lord states that he found this Hluebird very abundant between 

 the Cascades and the liocky ^lountains, where they arrive in June and leave 

 in September. After nesting they as.seniblud in large Hocks, and fed on the 

 open plains. 



The eggs are of a very light blue, ])aler than those of the other species. 

 They measure .*^1' (jf an inch in length by .GO in breadth. 



Mr. IJidgway states that ho found the IJocky ^Mountain Bluebird nesting 

 in Virginia City in June. Its nests were built about the old buildings, 

 and occasionally in the unused excavations about the mines. At Austin he 

 also found it conunou in July, in similar localities. On the Kast llumbohlt 

 Mountains it M-as very nunu'rous, especially on the more elevated portions, 

 where it nested among the rocks and, though more rarely, hi the deserted 

 excavations of woodpeckers in the stunted ])irion and cedar trees. Ho 

 describes it as generally very shy and ililHcult to olitain, seldom jtermitting 

 a very near aiija'oach. in its haliits it is much less arboreal tiian either >S'. 

 iiiiwiainn or ,s'. sliiH.-<, abvays jircferiing the open niouiitahi portions in the 

 higher miiges of tlie (ircat Basin. 



Ill regard to its notes Mr. Uidgway .says : "The common note of this 

 species woiihl, iVoiu its character, be at once recogiii/ed as that of a Blue- 

 bird. Its autumnal note, bowcver, lacks entirely the jjcculiar plaintiveiicss 

 so characteristic of that of our Ivistcrn species, and is much more feeblo, 

 consisting of a simjile weak chirp. Like the »S'. vu'.eimnn, the »S'. arrlirn 

 was also never heaid to giv(^ utterance to anything resembling the lovely 

 spring warbling of the iS. tsidli-s." 



