POLIOPTILA — P. C^RULEA 101 



of wbich widen toward tbeir rounded ends. Bill shorter than 

 head, straight, broad and depressed at base, rapidly narrow- 

 ing to the very slender teroiiual portion, distinctly notched and 

 hooked at the end — thus muscicapine in character, llictus 

 with well developed bristles. K"ostrils entirely exposed. 



This is a small group of one genus and about a dozeu species, 

 confined to America, chiefly developed in Central and South 

 America. It may not be well placed in the Sylviidcc, but is 

 better off here than among the Paridce, where it is put by some. 

 I should not be surprised if its closest relationships were with 

 the true Muscicapidce of the Old World. 



Genus POLIOPTILA Sclater 



Chajis. — To the foregoing add: Coloration grayish-blue, 

 white below, without red or yellow on head ; tail black, bor- 

 dered with white. 



The three North American species occur in the Colorado 

 region, two of them, in fact, being characteristic of this part of 

 the country. They are diminutive birds, of great energy and 

 activity, expert in flycatching, inhabiting woodland, migratory, 

 and musical — though the ordiuary call-note is a sharp squeals;. 



JBIue-gray Onatcatchcr 



Folioptila ccernica 



MotaclHa cserulea, L. SN. i. 1766, 317 (Edm. Glean, pi. 302). 

 Sylvia cserulea, Lat.'i. lo. ii. 1790, 540, do. lai. 



CllMcirora Cienilea, ?DOrb. l)is Cuba, 1839,90.— B«a. Pr. Bost. Soc. Tii. 1860, 306 (Cuba).— 

 Hoy, Smiths. Rep. for 1864, 1863, 437. 



Sylvnnia cjerulea, Nutt. Man. 3d sd. i. I84n, 337. 



PoUoptilacserulca, Sd. PZS. 1835, n.—Xam. Pr. Phila Acad, xi 1839, 191 (California). —Burn. 

 Smiths. Rep. for 1860, 1861, 437. -Bi. Rev. AB. 1864, 74.—Dress. Ibis, 186.5, 483 (Texas).- 

 Coues, Ibi-, 1865, 538 (Arizona).- Coues, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 66 (Arizona).— Cokcs, 

 Pr. Essex Inst. v. 1868, 268 —Crucs, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii. 1868, \m.—Butrh. Pr. Phila. 

 Acad. XX. 1868, 149 (Texas).- Maj/K. B. Fla. 1872. 28.— ScoU, Pr. Bost. Sue. xv. 1872, 

 221 (yiTg\m&).— Allen, Am. Nat. vi. 1872, 269.— Bremer, Am, Nat. vi. 1872, iSi.—Ridg. 

 Bull. Ess. Inst. V. 1873, 179.— ilfcrr. Am. Hat. viii. 1874, 8.— B. B. tf R. NAB. i. 1874, 78, 

 pi. 6, f .5. — 7?rcM. Pr. Bost. Soc. xvii. I87i, 451. — Hensk. List B. Ariz. 1875, 133. — Hens/t. 

 Ziol. Expl. W. 100 Merid. 1876, 166 (Arizona). 



HotacUlacaerulra, Gm. ss.i. 1788, 992, no. 43. 



CuHcirora caerutea, Bp. CA. i. 1850, 3[fi.-Gundt. J. f. 0. 1861, 407 (Cuba). 



Polioplilacaepulea, .Sfci. PZS. 1839, 363 (Xalapa).—Giin«. J. f. O. 1861,324 (Cuba); 1872, 

 409 (Cuba). 



Muscicapa ccerillea, Bp. Jouro. Phila. Acad. iv. 1824, \'t%—Gamh. Journ. Phila. Acad. i. 

 1847, 38. 



CuUciVOra Cdralea, Aud. BA. i. 1840, 244, pi. 70.— Woodh. Silgreave's Itep. 1853, 61.— Henry, 

 Pr. Phila. Acad. vii. 1855, 309 (New Mexico).— Pu(n. Pr. Essex Inst. i. 1836, 206. 



