SAXICOLID^ — SIALIA SIALIS 77 



the base, compressed beyond the nostrils, notched near the tip, 

 the culmea at first straight, then gently convex at the end, gonys 

 slightly convex and ascending, commissure slightly curved 

 throughout. Nostrils overhung and nearly concealed by the 

 projecting bristly feathers of the forehead. Lores and chin 

 likewise bristly. Gape ample, the rictus cleft to below the eyes, 

 furnished with a moderately developed set of bristles reaching 

 about opposite the nostrils. Feet short, though rather stout, 

 adapted exclusively for perching (in Saxieola, and other typical 

 genera, the structure of the feet indicates terrestrial habits). 

 Tarsi not longer than the middle toe. Lateral toes of unequal 

 lengths. Claws all strongly curved. 



Blue is the principal color of this beautiful genus, which con- 

 tains three species, all of thetu occurring in the Colorado region. 

 They are strictly arboricole, frequent the skirts of woods, cop- 

 pices, waysides, and weedy fields ; nest differently from the 

 Thrushes, in holes, and lay whole-colored eggs ; readily become 

 semi-domesticated, like the Swallows, House Wren, and House 

 Sparrow; feed upon insects and berries ; and have a melodious 

 warbling song. They are peculiar to America, and appear to 

 have no exact representatiV^es in the other hemisphere. 



TVilson's Bluebird 



Sialia stalls 



MotacUla Slalls, Livn. SN. i. 1758, 1S7, no. 25 (ex Gates, et Eiw.).—Linn. SN. i. 1766, 336, 

 no. 38— Turt. SN. i. 1806, 610.— £ess. Tr. Orn. 1831, 416. 



MotacUla sealls, Om. SN.i. 1788, 989, no. 38. 



Ficedula salia, Schaeffer, Mus. Cm. 1789, 36, no. 122. 



SjlTla Slalls, Latk. 10. ii. 1790, 522, no 44.— T. GAS. ii. 1807, 40, pla. 101, 102, 103, — mie. AG. 

 i. 1808, 56, pi. 3, f.—.—Licht. " Preis-Verz. Mox. Viig. 1830, 2"; J. f. G. 1863, 57.— 

 Gerkardt, Naum. iii. 1853, 38. — Goste, Alabama, 1859, 189. — Freyberg, Zool, Gart, xi. 

 1870, 191 (In captivity). 



Saxlcola slalls, Bp. Ann. Lyo. N. Y. ii. 1826, 89. 



AmpellSSialU, Nuu. Man. i. 1832, 444, flg. 



Slalla slalls, HaUeman, " Trego's Geog. of Penna. 1843, 77".— Bd. BNA. 1858, 222.— Barm. 

 Smitlison. Rep. for 1860, 1861, i3i.—Gu.nd. J. f. O. 1861, 324 (Cuba).— Ookcs If Prent. 

 Smiths. Rep. for 1961, 1862, i05.—Hayd. Tr. Am. Philos. Soo. xii. 1862, 159 (Upper Missouri 

 River).— Fern Pr. Essex Inst. iii. 1862, 145.— jTayA Ibis, iv. 1862, 128.— Gand. J. f. G. 

 1862, 177 (Cuba).- Boardm. Pr. Boat. Soo. ix. 1862, Vti.— Allen, Pr. Essex Inst. iv. 1864, 

 m.—Bd. Kev. AB. 1864, 62.— Dress. Ibis, i'. 1865, 475 (Texas).- Afc«w. Pr. Essex Inst. 

 V. 1866, 84 (Canada West).— taar. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vili. 1666, 282.— Base*. Pr. Pbila. 

 Acad. XX. 1863, 149 (Texas).- Coaes, Am. Nat. ii. 1868, 161.— Ooaes, Pr. Essex Inst. v. 

 1868, 268.— (7o!ies, Pr. Host. Soc. xii. 1868, Vfl.— HaUeman, Am. Nat. iii. 1869, 159 (claims 

 the name).— (7ooiJ. Am. Nat. iii. 1869, 32 (Montana).— iViiMmam, Am. Nat. iii. 1869, 390.— 

 Turnb. B. E. Pa. 1869, 22 ; Phila. ed. \fi.—Trippe, Pr. Ess. Inst. vi. 1871, 115 (Minnesota).— 

 Allen, Bull. MCZ. ii. 1871, 260 ; iii. 1872, 174 (Kansas).— Hoidm, Pr. Bost. Soo. xv. 1872, 



