ARCTIC BLUE-BIRD. 179 



quaintly and monotonously than the common kind, but in the same general 

 tone and manner." 



To this Mr. Townsend adds that it is found in the "Forests on the banks 

 of the Platte river, in the vicinity of the Black Hills, and in the same 

 situations on the banks of the Columbia. This species," he continues, "was 

 observed in the winter at Fort Vancouver, associating with S. occidentalis. 

 They confine themselves chiefly to the fences in the neighbourhood of the 

 Fort, occasionally flying to the ground, and scratching in the earth for 

 minute insects, the fragments of which were found in their stomachs. After 

 procuring an insect," the male usually returned to the fence, and warbled for 

 a minute most delightfully. Its note, although like that of our common 

 Sialia, is still so different as to be easily recognised. It is equally sweet and 

 clear, but of so little power (at least at this season) as to be heard only at a 

 short distance. In the spring it is louder and bolder, but is at all times much 

 less strong than that of the common species." 



Erythaca (Sialia) Arctica, Arctic Blue-bird, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. 



ii. p. 209. 

 Arctic Blue-bird, Sialia Arctica, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 573. 

 Arctic Blue-bird, Sylvia Arctica, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 38. 



Adult Male. 



Bill of ordinary length, nearly straight, broader than high at the base, 

 compressed towards the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight 

 and declinate, until near the end, when it becomes convex, the ridge narrow, 

 the sides convex towards the end, the edges direct and overlapping, with a 

 distinct notch close to the narrow deflected tip; lower mandible with the 

 angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides 

 convex, the edges direct, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, oval. 



Head rather large; neck short; body moderately full. Feet of ordinary 

 length, slender; tarsus compressed, covered anteriorly with seven long 

 scutella, posteriorly with two very long plates meeting so as to form a sharp 

 edge; toes of moderate length; the first stouter, the second and fourth nearly 

 equal, the third much longer; claws moderate, well curved, slender, com 

 pressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point. 



Plumage soft and blended, with considerable gloss; short bristles at the 

 base of the upper mandible. Wings very long; the first quill very small, 

 being only seven-twelfths of an inch long, the second one-twelfth shorter 

 than the third, which is longest, but exceeds the fourth only by half a 

 twelfth, the other primaries rapidly graduated; the outer secondaries emar- 

 ginate, the inner not elongated. Tail long, deeply emarginate, of twelve 

 strong feathers, of which the medial are five-twelfths shorter than the lateral. 



