BLUEBIRD. 413 



Nest, in natural or artificial holes in trees, stubs or posts, or in bird-boxes, 

 composed of miscellaneous material, loosely put together. 

 Kggs, four to six, pale blue, unmarked. 



In former years the Bluebirds were among our most abundant and 

 familiar birds, raising their young near our dwellings, and returning 

 year after year to occupy the boxes put up for their accommodation. 

 Since the advent of the English Sparrow, they have been gradually 

 decreasing in numbers, and are now seldom seen near their old 

 haunts, from which they have been driven by that pugnacious tramp, 

 Passer domesticus. ■ They are still common throughout the country, 

 where they are everywhere welcomed as early harbingers of spring, 

 and in the fall they linger till late in October, as if loath to depart. 

 This species was a special favorite with Wilson, on account of which 

 it is often spoken of as Wilson's Bluebird, to distinguish it from the 

 Indigo bird, and one or two other species to which the name is 

 sometimes applied. 



That enthusiastic lover of birds has made it the subject of one of 

 his pleasing poetical effusions, in which he faithfully describes many 

 of its habits, amongst others its early arrival in spring and reluctant 

 departure in the fall. With a short extract from this production, I 

 shall say good-bye, for the present, to the "Birds of Ontario": 



' ' When winter's cold tempests and snows are no more. 



Green meadows and brown furrow'd fields reappearing. 

 The fishermen hauling their shad to the shore. 



And cloud-cleaving Geese to the lakes are a-steering ; 

 When first the lone butterfly flits on the wing, 



When red glow the maples, so fresh and so pleasing, 

 O then comes the Bluebird, the herald of spring. 



And hails with his warblings the charms of the season. 



' When all the gay scenes of the summer are o'er, 



And autumn slow enters, so silent and sallow. 

 And millions of warblers, that charmed us before. 



Have fled in the train of the sun-seeking Swallow, 

 The Bluebird forsaken, yet true to his home, 



Still lingers and looks for a milder to-morrow, 

 Till, forced by the horrors of winter to roam, 



He sings his adieu in a lone note of sorrow. " 



