344 ZOOLOGY BIRDS. 



and Arizona, yet the habitats of the two largely overlap each other. Thus, 

 this flycatcher is given by Mr. C. E. Aiken as a bird of El Paso County, 

 Colorado ; this record presenting the most northern locality where it has been 

 taken. Dr. Coues's quotation of Southeast Wyoming, as afforded by Mr. 

 Aiken's notes, is erroneously given, as will be seen on referring to his paper. 



I have noted nothing in its habits which is specially different from the 

 manners in general of the Arkansas Flycatcher. It may, perhaps, frequent 

 rather more regularly the open country, as I have seen it much on the sage 

 brush plains, though never very far from the vicinity of timber ; and the 

 sides of open, brushy ravines seem to suit its nature well. The breeding 

 habits, nests, and eggs are said to correspond closely with those of verticalis. 

 Though found in the same locality, individuals of the two species never 

 meet without displaying their natural enmity. At Camp Grant, my atten- 

 tion being called by the loud outcries of several of these birds, I found that 

 a female and several young of the Arkansas Flycatcher were the objects of 

 a savage assault by a pair of the present species. The mother bird most 

 gallantly stood up and fought for her offspring, repelling each attack with 

 a brave front, and retaliating to the best of her ability. I watched them until I 

 saw that the assailants, having fairly got worsted, were glad to retire, and 

 leave the family to gather together in peace. 



Mr. Aiken furnishes the following from his Colorado notes: "This 

 flycatcher arrives in Colorado about the 10th or 12th of May, a week later 

 than its congener, T. verticalis. Although these two birds resemble each 

 other so closely in the skin, in life there are marked differences in notes and 

 actions that even a novice cannot fail to notice. Verticalis is a nervous, 

 fickle creature, seldom remaining long in one place, and flying with a quick 

 fluttering motion of the wings. It is also exceedingly noisy, its notes being a 

 high pitched clatter. Vociferans, on the other hand, is a more matter of 

 fact bird, often sitting quietly for a long time in the same place, and its 

 notes are harsher and less frequently uttered. Its appearance, too, when 

 alive conveys the impression of a heavier, stouter built bird. When 

 migrating, and indeed at other times, it appears to be restricted to the parks 

 of the foothills, alighting upon weed stalks and low bushes, from which it 

 sallies forth occasionally to seize some passing insect. At this season, it is 



