96 PLUMBEOUS GNATCATCHER. 
beautifully leaved and still more gorgeously flowered Magnolia grandiflora unfolds its 
chalice streaming with delicious fragrance. In the open white flowers the small insects 
revel and sip the sweet nectar. Every moment the Gnatcatcher changes its position. Now 
it is fluttering almost like a Hummingbird before the open flower, now it flies with aston- 
ishing rapidity from bough to bough, through the green canopy of leaves, then again 
into the air, and the next moment it descends in zig-zag lines almost to the ground. It is 
constantly in motion, granting itself hardly an instant’s rest. As it is not a shy bird, one is 
able to watch its movements of activity and restlessness for a considerable length of time. 
In September whole families of old and young birds enter the Texan orchards and 
ornamental groves. They are then busily engaged in capturing small insects on fences, 
out-houses, and trees. Still more charming is the picture when a half dozen or more of 
these sprightly birds are engaged about one tree. They even fly about the windows to 
search for spiders and concealed larvae. Insects of many kinds, also their eggs and larve 
form their principal food. I have never seen them feed upon berries although they grow 
in abundance in their woodland home. 
The song of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is as peculiar as it is attractive and beau- 
tiful. I have listened to it frequently, and I have always been struck with the enchant- 
ing beauty of the performance. On April 17, 1881, while wandering along a branch of 
the West Yegua, searching for nests of Vireos and Parula Warblers and observing Wood 
Warblers on their way to their northern breeding grounds, I heard emanating from a 
white-thorn bush, covered with clusters of sweet-scented flowers, a low, whispering, 
continued, exceedingly harmonious song, but so soft and low, that it was scarcely 
audible at a short distance. I was completely surprised when I noticed that the song 
came from a tiny Gnateatcher nimbly hopping and fluttering through the mass of 
flowers. The song bears some resemblance to the Catbird’s, but is of course much 
lower and softer, not perceptible at a distance. 
A nest and a pair of these fairy-like birds are so accurately and beautifully figured 
in Mr. Ridgway's plate (VI) that I deem a more detailed description unnecessary. 
NAMES: Bvue-cray GNaTCATCHER, Bluc-gray Flycatcher (Aud.), Little Blue-gray Flycatcher (Edwards).— 
Miickenfainger (German). Figuier gris-de-fer (Buff.). 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Motacilla caerulea Linn. (1766). Sylvia cacrulea Lath. (1790). Culeivora caerulea 
D'Orb, (1839). Sylvania cacrulea Nutt. (1840). POLIOPTILA CAERULEA Scrat. (1855), etc. 
DESCRIPTION: Above clear ashy-blue, brightest on crown, hoary on rump; below whitish; tail long, black, 
outer feather almost wholly white, next about half white, third tipped with white; wings blackish; 
forehead and line over the eye black. Female similar, but more grayish-blue, lacking the black on the 
head. Bill and feet black.—Length 4.50 to 5 inches; wing 2 to 2.25, tail a little over 2 inches. 
PLUMBEQOUS GNATCATCHAER. 
Polioptila plumbea Bairp. 
This species of Gnatcatcher is found from western Texas to Arizona and the eastern 
coast of Lower California. I am not able to report anything particular on its habits, 
but believe that it comes very near our well known castern’specics. According to Prof. 
Wm. Brewster, it seems a rather common bird in many localities in Arizona, especially 
