Blueberry

( Bot. ) See VACCINIUM. Blue'bird, n. ( Zool.) The Sialia sial is, an American bird of the family Turtida. This is a bird well known to every child, and whose habits of familiarity with man in summer are on a par with those of the European Redbreast in winter. As early as the middle of February, if the weather be open, he usually makes his appearance about his old haunts, the barn, orchard, and fence-posts. Storms and deep snows sometimes succeeding, he disappears for a time; but about the middle of March he is again seen accompanied by his mate, visiting the box in the garden, or the hole in the old apple-tree, the cradle of some generations of his ancestors. "When he first begins his amours," says a curious and correct observer, "it is pleasing to behold his courtship, his solicitude to please and to secure the favor of his beloved female. He uses the tenderest expre ion, sits close by her, care es and sings to her his most endearing warblings. When seated together, if he espies an insect delicious to her taste, he takes it up, flies with it to her, spreads his wing over her, and puts it in her mouth." The food of the bluebird consists principally of insects, particularly large beetles and other coleoptera, frequently of spiders, and sometimes of fruits and seeds. The nest is built in holes in trees, and similar situations. The bird is very prolific, for though the eggs, which are of a pale-blue color, seldom exceed six, and are more frequently five in number, two and sometimes three broods are produced in a season. Its song is cheerful, continuing with little interruption from March to October, but About November it takes its departure from the United Blue-curls, n. ( Bot . ) See PRUNELLA, and TRI CHO STEM A. States. The whole upper part of the bird, which is Blue'-dev'ils, n . pl . Depre ion of spirits; hypochon- about seven inches and a half long, is of a rich sky-blue, dria; sometimes used, in a vulgar sense, to denote the shot with purple. The bill and legs are black. Shafts of the wing and tail-feathers black. Throat, neck, breast, and sides, partially under the wings, reddish chestnut. Wings, dusky black at the tips. Belly and vent white. The female is duller in its colors. Blue-black, n. ( Painting .) A well-burnt and lev i- gated charcoal, of a cool, neutral color, and not differing from the common Frankfort black. B. was formerly much employed in painting. Blue'-blood, n. [Sp. sangre azul . ] A phrase common in Spain, where it is applied to the blood of the old no- bility by way of euphuism; and to define its supposed distinction from the red blood of plebeians; as, he is a grandee of the bluest blood. Blue'-bonnet, n. ( Zool .) See TITMOUSE. ( Bot .) Same as Blue-bottle. - See CENTAUREA. -pl . A term sometimes applied to the Scottish malady of Delirium -tremens. Blue'-disease, n . (Med.) See CYANOSIS. Blue Eagle, in Mi ouri , a post-office of Clay co. Blue Earth, in Minnesota , a S. county, bounded partially on the N. by the Minnesota River, divided by the Blue Earth, or Mankato River, and also watered by the Maple and Watonwan rivers. Area , about 760 sq. m. Surface. Undulating. Soil . Fertile. Min. Limestone. Cap . Mankato. Blue Earth City, in Minnesota , a post-village, cap of Faribault co., on Blue Earth River, is 42 m. 8. by W. of Mankato, and 100 S.S.W. of St. Paul. Blue Earth River, in Minnesota. See MANKATO. Blue'-eyed, a. Having blue eyes. "All the blue-bonnets are cro ing the Border." - Sir W. Scott. Blue'-book, n . In England, a term given to the reports that are to be printed and published by order of the parliament; so called from the blue color of their bindings. Also, in America and in England, a book containing the names of all persons holding public offices, with other particulars of general interest. Blue'-bottle, n. ( Bot. ) See CENTAUREA. (Zool.) A name of the Flesh-fly, Musca vomitoria, belonging to the order Diptera . This insect is termed blue-fly from its color, and flesh-fly from the fact of its depositing its eggs in fleshy viands, in which the larvæ Fig . 376. BLUE-BOTTLE, OR FLESH-FLY. (Magnified.) are hatched. It is generally larger than the common house-fly, and its wings indeed are sometimes nearly three-quarters of an inch in expanse. It is distinguished by a proboscis, always very apparent, membranous, and bibliate, generally bearing two palpi, and capable of being withdrawn entirely within the oral cavity; it also has a sucker of two pieces; the antennæ in a plate with lateral setæ. Blue Branch, in Texas , a vill. of Burleson co. Blue/breast, n. (Zool.) The Cyanecula suecica, an elegant little bird of the family Sylvicolidæ , much resembling our Redstart. It inhabits different parts of Europe, and is mostly found on the borders of forests. It is five inches and a half in length, of which the tail occupies two and a quarter. The head, back, and wing coverts are ashy-brown, mottled with a darker tint; a reddish-white line pa es above the eyes; a brilliant skyblue covers the throat and half-way down the breast; this is set off by a spot of the most dazzling white, the size of a pea, placed precisely over the larynx, which, enlarging and diminishing succe ively by the movement of this part when the bird sings, produces the most beautiful effect. The blue pa es into a black band, and the latter into a fine orange; the belly is dusky white; the thighs and sides are reddish; and the quill feathers dark brown. Some males have two little white spots on the throat, and some even three; but some have none. The food of the Bluebreast consists of flies, the larvæ of insects, and worms. The nest is built in bushes and in the holes of trees; and the eggs are of a greenish hue. The females, when young, are of a celestial-blue tint on the sides of the throat; and when very old, they have the throat sometimes of a very bright blue. Blue Can'yon, in California , a P. O. of Placer co. Blue'-cap, n. ( Zool .) Same as BLUE-FISH, q. v. Blue Carmine, n. ( Painting .) A blue oxide of molybdena, of which little is known as a substance or as a pigment. It is said to be of a beautiful blue color, and durable in a strong light, but is subject to change in hue by other substances, and blackened by foul air; we may conjecture, therefore, that it is not of much value in painting.