350 



ZOOLOGY BIRDS. 



CONTOPUS BOEEALIS (Swains.). 

 Olive-sided Flycatcher. 



Tyranmts borcalis, SWAINS. & EICH., Fn. Bor.-Airi., ii, 1831, 141, pi. 35. 



Contopus borcalis, BD., Birds N. A., 1858, 188. XANTUS, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 1859, 190 (Fort Tejon, Cal.). HEERM., P. E. K. Eep., x, pt. iv, 1859, 37. 

 COOP. & SUCKL., P. E. E. Eep., xii, pt, ii, 1800, 169. COOPER, Birds C;il., 

 i, 1870, 323. ALLEN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoiil., 1872, 179. COUES, Key N. 

 A. Birds, 1872, 173. SNOW, Birds Kan., 1872,6. AIKEN, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. 

 Hist., 1872, 206 (Wyoming). MERRI AM, TJ. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., 1872, G91 

 (Utah ; Idaho). BD., BREW., & EIDG., N. A. Birds, ii, 1874, 353, pi. 44, f. 1. 

 YARROW, Eep. Orn. Specs., 1871, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 35. YARROW & 

 HENSHAW, Eep. Orn. Specs., 1872, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 22. HENSHAW, 

 An. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., xi, 1874, 7. Id, An. List Birds Utah, 1872, 

 Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 46. Id., Eep. Orn. Specs., 1874, Wheeler's Exped., 

 1874, 85. COUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 243. 



The Olive-sided Flycatcher appears to be much more abundant through 

 the West generally than at the East, and in parts of Utah and Colorado has 

 been found by our parties in considerable numbers. It is a highly charac- 

 teristic bird of the pine region, ranging from about 7,000 feet up to timber 

 line. 



Its favorite perching places are the tops of the high pine stubs. From 

 these stations, it makes frequent sallies after passing insects, and seems 

 rarely to miss its prey. When thus engaged, the clicking noise of its bill 

 may be heard quite a distance. About the first of June, in Southern 

 Colorado, they had all mated, and each pair maintained a most jealous 

 watch over the neighborhood chosen as its summer residence, never allowing 

 the intrusion of the larger birds to pass unnoticed. The loud call notes of 

 the male are at this season almost incessantly repeated. After watching 



