SAXicoLiDa:. BIRDS. Sylviid.®. 
cxxxvi 
tioiis are relaxed it comes to tlie surface, sometimes 
being swept along for a considerable distance by the 
force of the current. It may gather food in a more 
usual manner, but, in any event, most of its subsis- 
tence is derived in this way from the water. 
“ 'I'he birds of this group, Ginclidm, are the oidy 
instances we have among the higher birds of truly 
acpnitic habits. They are all odd-looking creatures, 
short and puffy, with a short tail, looking as if it liad 
been cut off; short, rounded, concave wings, and 
lather stout feet. 'I'he jilumage is exceedingly soft 
and thick, to resist the water, something like that of 
a Duck’s breast, oidy much finer. Our species is of 
a nearly uniform leaden-gray all over, and about as 
large as a Blue-bird, though appearing much stouter. 
'I'he bird lives always close by the water, in the roar 
of the cascade, and the purling of the stream, 
haunting the stony banks that are slippery with 
moisture ; and, where the moss grows greenest, in the 
spray of the waterfall, it builds its elegant home — an 
imposing mansion, indeed, for such a plain-looking 
little bird. 'I'he nest is a great globe of living moss, 
some thirty inches in circumference, on a slab of 
stone, or in a crevice of a stranded stump, but always 
close by the water’s edge. 'I'he entrance is a neat 
doorway, made by a special arrangement of the moss 
in the shape of a hole in one side, no larger than is 
sufficient to admit of easy passage. Inside, this ball 
is lined with line grasses, keeping it snug, dry and 
warm ; and in one season it contained four or five 
pure white eggs.” 'I'he doctor adds some pleasant 
remarks about the aspect of this curious nest. 'I'he 
bird, frequenting the water as it does constantly, 
naturally shakes herself as she alights upon the 
mossy nest; this results in a sprinkling from the 
wet plumage, and consequently a freshening of the 
green moss patches, 'i'his bit of biography is ex- 
ceedingly entertaining, and is a valuable addition to 
the history of our American birds. 
Family— SAXICOLIDA5. 
STONE CHAT [Saxicola a/nanthe) is an accidental 
visitor in America. It is occasionally seen in Green- 
land, but is common in Europe, where it is called the 
Wheat-ear. See vol. i, page 326. 
BLUE-BIRD (Sialia sialis). — This beautiful bird is 
one of the earliest to arrive from its winter sojourn 
at the South. About the middle of IMarch, and 
sometimes earlier, it is seen in the Northern States ; 
and in October, about the last of the month, it again 
leaves for the South. Wilson says of him: “The 
pleasing and sociable disposition of this little bird 
entitles him to particular notice. As one of the first 
messengers of spring, bringing the charming tidings 
to our very doors, he bears his own recommendation 
always along with him, and meets with a hearty 
welcome from everybody. 'I’he usual spring and 
summer song of the Blue bird is a soft, agreeable and 
oft-repeated warble, uttered with open, quivering 
wings, and is extremely pleasing. In his motions 
and general character he has great resemblance to 
the Robin-redbreast of England, and had he the 
brown-olive of that bird, instead of his own blue, 
could scarcely be distinguished from him.” 
CALIFORNIA BLUE-BIRD [Sialia mexicana). — 'I’his 
species seems to be to the Pacific Coast what S. 
sialis is to the eastern. 'I'he latter is not seen far 
west of the Missouri River, and the Western Blue- 
bird is confined to the western slope. Prof. Baird 
says : “The shade of blue in this species is much as 
in the common eastern species, only brighter and 
more intense. 'I’he bill is more slender and the 
wings longer.” 'I'his bird was described by Audubon 
as Sylvia occidentalis. 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BLUE-BIRD [Sialia arctica).— 
'I’his species was described by Audubon as Sylvia 
arctica. It is of a lighter blue than the other 
species, and has no brown shade. “'I'he bill is much 
stouter than in mexicana, as well as longer than in 
sialis. 'I’he wings, also, are longer in proportion, 
reaching nearly to the end of the tail, which is more 
deeply forked than in either of the others. It in- 
habits the high, dry central plains in Upper IMissouri 
to Rocky .Mountain range and south to Mexico. 
Rare on the coast of California.”— RamZ. 
ALASKA WILLOW WARBLER [Phyllo2Vieusts 
iorealis). — A single specimen of this species was 
found in 1866 on St. Michael’s Island, Norton’s 
Sound, Alaska. It closely resembles the Willow 
Wren of Europe. 
Family— SYLVIIDtE. 
RUBY-CROWNED WREN [Regulus calendula ). — 
'I'his little creature is a visitor in the Northern 
States about the middle of April. It winters in the 
southern jiart of the Union, and passes on to Canada 
and Labrador to breed about the middle of May. In 
the fall it again visits us; and it proves an accepta- 
ble sojourner, both for its song and for its services 
in the destruction of insects. It ranges through the 
whole country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and 
from Mexico to Alaska. It is four inches in length 
and six in extent of wing. 
GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN [Regulus satrapa ). — 
'I’his species so closely resembles others found in 
every quarter of the globe that, for a time, it was 
considered to be the same species. Audubon regards 
it as differing from the R. cristatus of Europe, in 
being considerably longer, with the bill decidedly 
shorter and the flame-colored patch on the head more 
extended. Prof. Baird compares a specimen of the 
European species, and finds the “ wing of the latter 
rather longer, and the bill considerably shorter.” 
Dr. Brewer, in his edition of Wilsori's Ornithology . 
says: “'I'his very hardy and active tribe, with one 
exception, inhabits the temperate and northern cli- 
mates, reaching even to the boundaries of the arctic 
circle. 'I’hey are migratory in the more northern 
countries, and though some species are able to brave 
our severest winters, others are, no doubt, obliged, 
by want of food and a lower degree of cold, to quit 
the rigors of northern latitudes.” 'I’he Golden-crest 
is about the same size as the Ruby-crowned. It has 
on the crown of the head two black bands or lines. 
