i 3 4 THRUSHES 



BLUEBIRD 

 Sialis sialis stalls. Case 4, Fig. 78; Case 5, Fig. 13 



The Bluebird's red, white and blue mark him as a truly Ameri- 

 can bird. L. 7.' 



Range. Nests from the Gulf States to Florida; winters from 

 Connecticut and northern Ohio southward. 



Washington, common S. R., and W. V. Ossining, common 

 P. R. Cambridge, common S. R., Mch. 6— Nov. 1 ; more numer- 

 ous during migrations, in Mch. and Nov. N. Ohio, common 

 S. R., Feb. 17— Nov. 18; a few winter. Glen Ellyn, fairly common 

 S. R., Feb. 19-Nov. 18. SE. Minn., common S. R. t Mch. 16- 

 Oct.31. 



Not many years ago the Bluebird was as familiar as he 

 was welcome about our homes; but too gentle to battle 

 effectively with English Sparrows and Starlings for the 

 possession of bird houses, he has sought such nesting sites 

 in the orchard as the 'tree surgeons' have left. If we 

 would not lose this bird, "beloved of children, bards and 

 spring," who wears our national colors so modestly, we must 

 supply him with a home in which he may rear his family 

 in peace. It may be placed not only in our garden, but 

 also in the orchard where it is less likely to be occupied by 

 Sparrows or Starlings. It should be erected not later than 

 March 15, for the Bluebird's bluish white eggs are laid in 

 the first half of April. 



