﻿446 WARBLER. 



They are pretty common at Alface ; and are thought very good 

 food, many being at times caught for the ufe of the table. 



40. Motacilla fialis, Lin. Syjl. i. p. 336. N° 38. 



+■ BLUE W. L e Rouge-gorge bleue de la Caroline, Brif. onr, iii. p. 423. N° 23. — Buf. oif. 



v. p. 212. — PL e>d. 390. i. 2, 

 Blue Red-breaft, Ediv. pi. 24. 

 Blue Bird, Caiejb. Car. vol. i. pi. /tf.—Ar3. Zoo!., 



Br. Muf. Lev. Muf. ""** 



Description. HP H I S is bigger than our Red-breaft ; and in length five inches 

 and three quarters. The bill blackifh : the upper parts of 

 the plumage of a very fine blue : the throat, fore neck,, breafty 

 and fides, of a fine rufous red : belly and under tail coverts 

 white : legs black. In fome birds there is a lictle mixture of 

 blue on the breath 

 Female. The female is not far different, but the colours not near fo 



bright : the blue mixed with dufky, and the fecondaries edged 

 with white. 

 Place and This fpecies is migratory ; coming into Carolina, Virginia, the 



Jerfeys, and New York, very early in the fpring; fometimes even 

 when the fnow is on the ground. Suppofed to come in flocks, 

 as great numbers appear all at once. Feed on the early Ephe- 

 mera in March ; frequent fields where Maize and Mulleins grow, 

 and perch on the ftalks, in order to pick off" the flies. Is alfo 

 often feen on rails, and jumps after the flies within reach, like the 

 Flycatcher. Is never feen on trees, though faid to make the nefl 

 in the holes of them. Flies fwiftj and has a plaintive kind of 

 note, but not what may be called fong. 

 • - It alfo is found in the Bermuda ifles. 



Motacilla 



