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. occidentalism 
They eonfine 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. Amen, 
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 cinar- 
ginate, the inner not elongated. Tail long, deeply emarginate, of twelve 
strong feathers, of which the medial are five-twelfths shorter than the lateral 
