Male, 41/4, 6.
Breeds in Labrador. In autumn migrates to the Southern States, as far as Texas. Abundant.
Ruby-crowned Wren, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 83.
Regulus Calendula, Bonap. Syn. p. 91.
Ruby-crowned Wren, Sylvia Calendula, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 415.
Ruby-crowned Regulus, Regulus Calendula, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 546.
GENUS II. SIALIA, Swains. BLUE BIRD
Bill of ordinary length, nearly straight, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight and slightly declinate, until near the end, when it becomes convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex toward the end, the edges 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, ovate, neck short; body moderately full. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, its lower scutella only distinct; toes of moderate length, the first stouter, the lateral equal, the third much longer; the fourth adherent at the base; claws moderate, well curved, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended; short bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings very long, pointed; the first quill very small, second, third, and fourth longest. Tail rather long, emarginate, of twelve rather strong feathers.
134. 1. Sialia Wilsoni, Swains. Common Blue Bird
Plate CXIII. Male, Female, and Young.
Male with the upper parts ultramarine blue, the lower parts light chestnut-red, excepting the abdomen, which is white. Female with the upper parts dull greyish-blue, brighter behind; lower parts as in the male, but much duller. Young with the upper part of the head, hind neck, and part of the back greyish-brown, the rest as in the female, the lower parts light grey, the feathers on the breast and sides margined with brown.
Male, 7, 10. Female, 61/2.
Generally distributed from Texas to the Fur Countries. Vast numbers spend the winter in the Southern States. Columbia River. Migratory.
Blue Bird, Sylvia Sialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 56.
Saxicola Sialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 39.
Erythaca (Sialia) Wilsonii, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 210.
Blue Bird, Ampelis Sialis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 444.
Blue Bird, Sylvia Sialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 84; v. v. p. 452.
135. 2. Sialia occidentalis, Townsend. Western Blue Bird
Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.
Male with the upper parts and throat ultramarine blue; fore part of back, breast, and sides, light chestnut-red; rest of lower parts light blue, the abdomen whitish. Female with the upper parts dull greyish-blue, the back tinged with brown, the wing-coverts and rump brighter; lower parts pale red, the abdomen light grey.
Male, 7; wing, 45/12. Female, 63/4.
North California, and Oregon Territory. Abundant. Migratory.
Sialia occidentalis, Western Blue Bird, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 188.
Western Blue Bird, Sylvia occidentalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 41.
136. 3. Sialia arctica, Swains. Arctic Blue Bird
Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 2. Male. Fig. 3. Female.
Male with the upper parts light ultramarine, with a tinge of green; sides of the head, fore neck, and sides of neck, and the anterior half of the breast, light greenish-blue, that colour gradually fading into white behind. Female with the upper parts light greyish-brown, the rump and wing-coverts blue; fore part of neck and anterior portion of the breast reddish-grey, the rest of the lower parts pale brownish-grey.
Male, 71/4; wing, 47½/12. Female, 63/4; wing, 42/12.
Columbia River, Rocky Mountains, and Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.
Erythaca (Sialia) Arctica, Arctic Blue Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 209.
Arctic Blue Bird, Sialia Arctica, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 573.
Arctic Blue Bird, Sylvia Arctica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 38.
FAMILY XII. TURDINÆ. THRUSHES
Bill short, or of moderate length, rather strong, straight, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal outline a little convex and declinate, the tip small, rather acute, the notches small; lower mandible with the angle rather short, of moderate width, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the tip acute. Head oblong, compressed, of moderate size; neck rather short; body moderate. Eyes of moderate size. External aperture of ear large and roundish. Feet of moderate strength; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes rather strong, compressed; first, second, and fourth, nearly equal, third much longer, and adherent to the fourth at the base; claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage rather blended. Bristles small. Wings of moderate length, broad, rounded; the first quill very small, third and fourth longest. Tail of twelve feathers, varying in length. Tongue sagittate, and papillate at the base, slender, tapering, its tip slit. Œsophagus rather narrow, without crop; proventriculus oblong; stomach a gizzard of moderate strength, its lateral and lower muscles distinct; the epithelium dense and rugous; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small, cylindrical. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.
GENUS I. CINCLUS, Bechst. DIPPER
Bill rather short, slender, slightly ascending, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line straight until toward the end, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges somewhat inflected, with an obscure notch close to the narrow deflected tip; lower mandible slightly bent upwards, the angle medial and very narrow, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the tip narrow and rather acute. Nostrils linear, direct, exposed. General form short, full, and compact. Head oblong, compressed. Legs strong; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, covered anteriorly with a long undivided plate and four inferior scutella; toes rather large and strong; claws arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, that of the hind toe considerably larger. Plumage ordinary, rather blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings rather short, convex, rounded. Tail short, even.
137. 1. Cinclus Americanus, Swains. American Dipper
Plate CCCLXX. Adult. Plate CCCCXXXV. Young.
Head and neck chocolate-brown, upper parts very deep bluish-grey, lower somewhat lighter, and tinged anteriorly with brown. Young with the upper parts deep bluish-grey, the head and hind neck slightly tinged with brown; lower parts lighter, the feathers margined with whitish, the throat with a slight tinge of brown.
Male, 71/2, 101/2.
Rocky Mountains. Oregon Territory. North California. Not abundant.
Cinclus Pallasii, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 173.
Cinclus Americanus, American Dipper, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 173.
Black Water-Ouzel or Dipper, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 358.
American Dipper, Cinclus Americanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 493; v. v. p. 303.
GENUS II. ORPHEUS, Swains. MOCKING-BIRD
Bill of moderate length or longish, rather slender, straight or slightly arched, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the