The Western Bluebird 
Photo by 
F. S. Merrill 
ish or, Aztecan, or Zampeyan, he flits about silent in seven lan¬ 
guages. Er—but—what’s this? Can we be mistaken ? Here is what 
Dr. J .K. Townsend 1 says of the Western Bluebird: “Common on 
the Columbia River in the spring. Tt arrives from the south early in 
April, and about the first week in May commences building. 
* * * A flock of eight or ten of these birds visited the British 
fort on the Columbia, on a fine day in the winter of 1835. They 
confined themselves chiefly to the fences, occasionally flying to the 
ground and scratching among the snow for minute insects, the 
fragments of which were found in the stomachs of several which I 
killed. After procuring an insect the male usually re¬ 
turned to the fence again, and warbled for a minute most 
delightfully. This note although somewhat like that of 
our common Wilsonii [i. e., S. sialis ], is still so different 
as to be easily recognized. It is equally sweet and clear 
but of so little compass (at this season) as to be heard 
only a short distance. In the spring it is louder, but it 
is at all times much less strong than that of the common species.” 
Dr. Brewer, condensing Nuttall, says: 2 “He [Nuttall] 
speaks of its habits as exactly similar to those of the common 
Bluebird. The male is equally tuneful throughout the breeding 
season, and his song is also very similar. Like the common 
species he is very devoted to his mate, alternately feeding and 
caressing her and entertaining her with his song. This is a little 
more varied, tender, and sweet [editor’s italics] than that of the 
Eastern species, and differs in its expressions.” 
Our own Dr. Cooper testifies: 3 “It also differs [i. e., 
from S. sialis) in its song, which is not so loud as sweet, and is curiously 
performed to sound as if two birds were singing at once and in different 
keys.” Here the tradition begins to waver. More recent writers say: 
“The song of the Western Bluebird is not full but is, like his manners, 
gentle and sweet” (Lord); and, “It has the soft warble of its kind” Mrs. 
Bailey). But again Dr. Brewer writes: 4 “In regard to their song Mr. 
Ridgway states that he did not hear, even during the pairing season, any 
note approaching in sweetness, or indeed similar to, the joyous spring 
warble which justly renders our Eastern Bluebird ( S. sialis ) so universal 
a favorite.” The doctors disagree. Some one has been dreaming! 
It is always interesting and sometimes amusing thus to trace the 
early struggles of truth. Preconceptions die hard. The Eastern Blue- 
LITTLE BOY BLUE 
1 Narrative (1839), p. 344. 
2 Baird, Brewer & Ridgway, Land Birds, Vol. I., p. 65 [Reprint]. 
3 Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., Vol. XII., 1859. P- 17 3 - 
4 Baird, Brewer & Ridgway, Land Birds, Vol. I., p. 66 [Reprint]. 
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