AMPELIDiE — THE CHATTERERS. 407 



migrating southward. Dr. Henry describes its note as a low, plaintive 

 whistle. He ascertained that it breeds in California by finding specimens 

 of young birds. He likewise met with this species near Fort Webster, in 

 New Mexico ; and Dr. Kennerly also noticed it, in February and March, 

 between Big Sandy Creek and the Colorado River. 



Mr. Dresser obtained two specimens of tliis species at Eagle Pass. One 

 of these had its stomach HUed with the berries of a species ol' mistletoe that 

 grows abundantly on the mezquite-trees. He noticed tluit it carries its crest 

 erect and much recurved, after the manner of the European Farus crisfafm. 



Sumicln'ast states that this species, called Rci/ccito, is well distributed 

 throughout the Plateau of Mexico, but only ranges in the valley of the Ori- 

 zaba, to the height of about 1,500 metres, rarely coming as far as that. It 

 is also common at Tehauntepec and other places. 



Dr. Cooper found them quite numerous, in winter, near tiie Colorado. He 

 also found them common, in December, about the Mohave River, and in sum- 

 mer, from Los Angeles to San Diego. They were found to prefer the trees 

 in which the mistletoe grows, on the berries of which they largely feed, 

 though they occasionally pursue insects in a zigzag course similar to that 

 of the Saijorms nigrkans. 



They almost constantly utter a loud cry of alarm, and when pursued are 

 very wild. When wounded, they conceal themselves so closely in the thirk 

 tufts of the mistletoe as to be found with difficulty. Many left the Colorado 

 Valley in April, but a few remained. Their notes Dr. Cooper describes as 

 similar to those of the Crested Flycatchers, but sweeter. 



It was found by Feilner, at Fort Crook, in April, 18(i0, but has not been 

 met with near the coast so far to the north. 



A nest of this bird, obtained by Dr. Cooper, on the 27th of April, was built 

 on a horizontal branch of the mezqu.ite {Algarohia), twelve feet from the 

 ground. It was found near Fort Mohave, on the Colorado River. The nest 

 is a very flat structure, four inches in diameter, and less than two in height. 

 The cavity is less than an inch in depth. The nest is made almost entirely 

 of hempen or flax-like filires of plants, interwoven with fine grasses, .stems 

 of plants, and stalks of a larger size. It is lined with a soft downy sub- 

 stance of a vegetable character. 



The eggs, two in number, are of an oblong-oval shape, nearly equal at 

 either end, and with a gi'ound-color of a light slate, tinged with a yellowish- 

 gi'een. Tliey are marked and blotched equally over the entire egg, with spots 

 and blotches of various lines, from a light, faint, obscure purple to deeper tints 

 of pur]ilish-brown, even to black. It is a very marked egg, and unique in 

 its appearance. They measure .90 by .60 of an inch. 



Dr. Coues found this species a summer resident in Arizona, somewhat 

 rare about Fort Whipple, but found very abundantly a little farther south, 

 and a permanent resident in the southern portions of that Territory. It 

 inhabits rather open country in preference to densely wooded regions. He 



