Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, volume 1.djvu/399

Rh acute, the third quill longest, the first equal to the fifth, the primaries widely graduated; the secondaries comparatively very short. Tail very deeply forked, of twelve feathers, the lateral ones extremely elongated. Bill bluish-black above, light blue on the cere, and the edges of both mandibles. Edges of the eyelids light blue; iris black. Feet light blue, tinged with green; claws flesh-coloured. The head, the neck all round, and the under parts, are white, tinged with bluish-grey; the shafts of the head, neck, and breast blackish. The rest of the plumage is black, with blue and purple reflections. Length 25 inches, extent of wings 51½; beak along the back 1¼. The female is similar to the male.

This is one of our most abundant species, and is found everywhere in the meadows, the fields, the gardens, and the forests. It moves with ease, and now and then ascends low bushes. It is quite harmless.