Plate CXCV. Male and Female.
Upper parts greenish-olive, anteriorly tinged with grey, on the rump
inclining to yellow; a patch of vermilion on the crown of the head;
quills and tail dusky, edged with greenish-yellow; secondary coverts
and first row of small coverts tipped with greyish-white, a circle of
the same round the eye; lower parts greenish-white. Female similar,
with the tints duller, especially the greenish-yellow of the wings.
Young without the coloured patch on the crown, and more deeply tinged
with yellow beneath.
_Male_, 4-1/4, 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.