192 WARBLER. 



The female differs in being less bright; the blue mixed with 

 dusky, and the second quills edged with white; breast and sides 

 paler rufous than in the male ; middle of the belly and vent white ; 

 from the nostrils to the eye a pale streak. 



The young male has the top of the head plain ash-colour ; 

 the plumage otherwise cinereous brown, spotted with white above, 

 and on the breast ; chin and belly white ; wing coverts cinereous 

 brown, tipped with white; quills dusky, with blue margins; tail 

 blue, with the end dusky. 



Inhabits Carolina, Virginia, the Jerseys, and New York ; also 

 common in Georgia, the whole year : in the summer greatly fre- 

 quents the large pines, round the ponds ; and in the winter, seen in 

 plantations; makes a nest of dried grass and feathers, placing it in 

 a hollow stump of a tree; the eggs pale greenish blue, a trifle 

 transparent at the larger end; also seen in fields where maize and mul- 

 lein grow, for the sake of flies and other insects, and is often known 

 to leap after them on the wing, in the manner of the Flycatcher ; 

 frequently seen on rails, from whence it springs on the insects passing 

 by. Flies swiftly, and has a plaintive kind of note, but not what 

 may be called a song ; sometimes will have three broods in a season ; 

 the nest often made in the hole of an Apple Tree ; varies in the food, 

 for when insects are less plentiful, will feed on Sour Gum* Berries, 

 and ripe Persimons.t Many of this species pass the winter in 

 the Bahama Islands ; also Mexico, Brazil, and Guiana. 



255— BLUE INDIAN WARBLER. 



LENGTH six inches. Bill black, at the base a few hairs; head, 

 neck, and all the upper parts, wings, and tail, deep blue ; forehead 

 and crown paler ; beneath from the throat white, with a reddish 

 tinge on the breast ; legs dusky. 



* Nyssa aquatica. f Diospyros Virginiana. 



