GENUS 43. SYLVIA. WARBLER. 
SPECIES 1. S. SMLIS. 
BLUE-BIRD. 
[Plate III. — Fig. 3.] 
Le Rouge gorge, bleu, Buffon, v, 212, PL Enl. 390. — Blue-War- 
bler, Lath, ii, 446. — Catesb. i, 47 . — Motacilla sialis, Linn. 
Syst. 336. — Bartram, p. 291. — Peale’s Museum, JSTo. 7188.* 
The pleasing manners and sociable disposition of this little 
bird entitle him to particular notice. As one of the first messen- 
gers 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 every body. 
Though generally accounted a bird of passage, yet so early 
as the middle of February, if the weather be open, he usually 
makes his appearance about his old haunts, the barn, orchard 
and fenceposts. Storms and deep snows sometimes succeeding, 
he disappears for a time; but about the middle of March is again 
seen, accompanied by his mate, visiting the box in the garden, or 
the hole in the old apple-tree, the cradle of some generations of 
his ancestors. “When he first begins his amours,” says a curious 
and correct observer, “ it is pleasing to behold his courtship, his 
“ solicitude to please and to secure the favour of his beloved female. 
“ He uses the tenderest expressions, sits close by her, caresses 
“ and sings to her his most endearing warblings. When seated 
“ together, if he espies an insect delicious to her taste, he takes 
* Motacilla sialis, Linn. Syst. i, p. 187, Ed. 10.— Gmel. Syst. i, p. 989. — Syl- 
via sialis, ’Lath. Ind. Orn. ii, 522. — Vieillot, Ois. de l’i3m. Sept.pl. 101, male; 
102, female; 103, young . — La Gorge rouge de la Caroline, Buff. PI. Enl. 396, 
fig. 1, male; fig. 2, female. 
