324 ^OKTH J_M£RICAX BIRDS. 



of the year, and it was especially seen about houses. For about a week, at 

 the end of April, 1857, they were extremely numerous. On their return from 

 their summer quarters, they were first observed September 6. Mr. Taylor 

 also mentions them as common in Trinidad, ilr. Ridgway found it a com- 

 mon species among the willow thicl<ets of the ri\'er valleys, west as far as 

 the Great Salt Lake. 



This species, in its spring and autumnal migrations, is abundant in Louisi- 

 ana and Texas, as Avell as in the Gulf States. AVilson speaks of meeting 

 with it in the then " iVIississippi Territory." Audubon gives it as abundant 

 in Louisiana, and Nuttall as found throughout Louisiana and Arkansas into 

 Mexico. Mr. Dresser also mentions it as very common near San Antonio in 

 the .spring and autumn, arri\ing on the Medina tlie 27th of April. 



Dr. Coues says that the lledstart near Washington is chiefly a spring and 

 autunmal \isitant, and but very few remain to breed. In tlie spring it is 

 very abundant from ^V))ril 2-5 to IVIay 20, and in the fall from tlie 1st to the 

 20th of September, in all woody and swampy situations, lie iuund it in 

 tlic habit of running along slender twigs, sideways, and having a note very 

 similar to that of D. cvstiva. 



Although placed among the Oscwies, where,, as an excellent singer, it clearly 

 has a good riglit to be classed, it is yet also a true Flycatcher in liabits and 

 manners. It is a lively, active bird, ever on the wing, and continually in 

 pursuit of insects. In this pursuit it never awaits the approach of its prey, 

 but, espying them at a distance, darts with great velocity in pursuit, and the 

 continued clicks of its bill attest the rapidity and frequency with whicli it 

 will overtake and catch insect after insect. Even wlien lamenting the loss 

 of a part of its brood, and flying around with cries of distress, tlie sight of 

 passing insects is a temptation not to be resisted, and tlie parent bird will 

 stop lier lamentations to catch small flies. 



Its notes are a varied twitter, rather tlian a song, a repetition of two simple 

 notes, uttered every few seconds as it seeks its prey, flying among the thick 

 foliage usually in dense groves. Its common habit is to glide along a branch, 

 between its smaller twigs, at times darting fortli into more open spaces in 

 quest of insects it has espied. 



TJieir nests are usually, though not always, built in a low branch, eight or 

 ten feet from the ground, in the midst of a thick grove. I liave known it 

 to build in an open field and in close proximity to a dwelling. It keeps to 

 gi'oves and thickets, and frequents moist places rather than dry, evidently 

 because of the greater abundance of insects, and not because of timid or 

 retiring habits. It is indeed far from being timid, and will permit a near 

 approach without any exhibitions of uneasiness. When its nest is visited, 

 the male bird manifests great disturbance, and flies back and forth around the 

 head of the intruder with cries of distress. The female is far less demon- 

 strative, and even when her nest is despoiled before her eyes is quite moder- 

 ate in the expression of her grief. 



