478 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
Colonel Irby writes that “ a pair nested in a hole outside the wall of my stables at 
Gibraltar, in June 1869. Five eggs were laid, which were hatched about the 20th. 
The nest was of small dried roots, and was very scanty. When the young were 
hatched, I broke through the wall from the inside of the stable to the nest, making 
the hole large enough to admit a small cage, in which I placed the nest and young; 
over the inside hole I then hung an old coat so as to shut out the light from the 
inside, cutting a small slit in the coat, through which I used to watch the old birds 
feeding their young within six inches. Both birds fed them at intervals of not 
more than five minutes. The food consisted almost entirely of centipedes, with 
now and then a large spider or bluebottle-fly by way of change. Two of the five 
young died in the cage, from the old birds not being able to get at them. Of the 
other three, only one attained maturity, living till October. He was very tame, 
and of most engaging habits and disposition, in fact what the Spaniards call 
‘ simpatico.’ In his younger days he was fed on soaked bread and bruised snails.” 
The blue thrush is a well-known bird at Rome, at Malta, and in many other 
European resorts of tourists. Everywhere it frequents rocks, ruins, and old walls, 
pouring forth its delicious music in solitary wastes. It is a favourite cage-bird, 
and as such commands high prices; but it is excessively delicate and difficult to 
keep. The adult male is of a general dull blue above, the head and breast having 
a silvery gloss, while the under-parts of the body are dull blue. The female differs 
from the mate, in being greyish brown above, tinted with blue, and reddish buff on 
the lower-parts. 
Possessing a characteristic plumage of sky-blue (associated 
Bluebirds. ° 1 ° ^ v 
with chestnut in two instances), the bluebirds ( Sialia ) are easily 
distinguished from all other North American birds. The bill is straight and 
compressed, notched near the extremity; while the wings are pointed and much 
longer than the tail, which is slightly forked; the feet being stout and short, and 
adapted for perching, and not for running, as in the chats. Bluebirds are peculiar 
to the American continent, and have no nearly allied representatives in the Old 
World. No more charming bird is to be found in the United States than the blue¬ 
bird or blue robin (Sialia sicilis), which breeds as far north as Southern Canada, 
and passes the winter months in great numbers in the Southern United States. 
It is one of the first birds to arrive in the States in spring, preceding the 
swallows and many other species; indeed, it is occasionally observed as early as 
January and February in its summer home. The male is a cheery songster, and 
all his movements are characterised by grace and energy. The nest is placed in 
the hollow of some tree; the eggs are pale blue, and unspotted; and several broods 
are reared in a season. The bluebird is often imported to Europe as a cage- 
bird, and has often bred in confinement. Mr. A. G. Butler gives the following 
account of some pet birds of this species: “my blue robins made friends early 
in June, the cock-bird giving every insect he got hold of to the hen, to induce her 
to receive his attentions; the hen was very coy, and refused his advances until 
about the end of the first fortnight; the pairing was a noisy affair, as the cock- 
bird kept up an incessant shrieking noise, with Iris body elongated, and his beak 
turned up to the ceiling, for fully half an hour beforehand, and for quite ten 
minutes afterwards. On Sunday the 16th of June the hen spent the whole day 
