BIRDS OF NEW YORK I97 



the upper Ausable lake, Elk lake and Boreas pond by the author and 

 his assistants in 1905. This little flycatcher has evidently extended its 

 range within recent years in some parts of the State, for no nests and eggs 

 of this species were collected in the years between i860 and 1885 in many 

 portions of western New York where it is now known to breed, although 

 during those years the country was very thoroughly worked over by 

 inveterate oologists. Mr Miller (Auk, 20, 68) found it breeding at Plain- 

 field, N. J. It is thus evident that this species is not confined to the 

 Canadian zone, but is found both in the transition and the Canadian 

 swamps. During the migration season it occurs in nearly every portion 

 of the State, arriving from May 8 to 15 and passing on to its breeding 

 grounds between the 20th and the 30th. In the fall the migration is 

 principally accomplished between the 15th and the 30th of August. 



The Alder flycatcher prefers swamps more or less thickly covered 

 with a low growth of alders, willows, meadowsweet and other low shrubs, 

 but is rarely found within the depths of the forest. It sometimes occupies 

 a rather lofty perch on a dead tree or top of an alder while singing its 

 peculiar song which is uttered with apparent difficulty with a swelling 

 of the throat and a labored jerk of the head. Doctor Dwight who heard 

 it in the North Woods syllabizes it " ee-zee-e-up." Mr F. H. Allen writes 

 it " wee-zee-up" the " up " very faint. DeWitt Miller writes it " grea'- 

 deal " or " k rated." Tom Taylor, one of my assistants in the Mt Marcy 

 region, insisted that the birds on the Upper Ausable marshes sang 

 " bit-tc-o.'' 1 It is evident that these different attempts to write the song 

 of the Alder flycatcher could not refer to the same note, and in different 

 parts of the country he evidently sings differently. Beside this so-called 

 song he has a little alarm note that sounds like " pep " or " pip "; and 

 according to Bendire one like " whuish-whuish " ; and Allen noted an 

 emphatic " ca-weet." Like the Green-crested flycatcher this species usually 

 keeps out of sight among the foliage. It is not found in dense woodland 

 growths on the upland, but rather in the swampy tangles. The nest is 

 usually concealed in a low alder or spirea or willow or swamp rose at 



