THE BLUEBIRD 191 
heard nearly the year through about English gar- 
dens and along the old hedge-rows, that is quite 
beyond the compass of our bird’s instrument. On 
the other hand, our bird is associated with the 
spring as the British species cannot be, being a 
winter resident also, while the brighter sun and sky 
of, the New World have given him a coat that far 
surpasses that of his transatlantic cousin. 
It is worthy of remark that among British birds 
there is no blue bird. The cerulean tint seems 
much rarer among the feathered tribes there than 
here. On this continent there are at least three 
species of the common bluebird, while in all our 
woods there is the blue jay and the indigo-bird, — 
the latter so intensely blue as to fully justify its 
name. ‘There is also the blue grosbeak, not much 
behind the indigo-bird in intensity of color; and 
among our warblers the blue tint is very common. 
It is interesting to know that the bluebird is not 
confined to any one section of the country; and that 
when one goes West he will still have this favorite 
with him, though a little changed in voice and 
color, just enough to give variety without marring 
the identity. 
The Western bluebird is considered a distinct spe- 
cies, and is perhaps a little more brilliant and showy 
than its Eastern brother; and Nuttall thinks its 
song is more varied, sweet, and tender. Its color 
approaches to ultramarine, while it has a sash of 
chestnut-red across its shoulders, — all the effects, I 
suspect, of that wonderful air and sky of California, 
