544 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Sayomis nigricans. 

 nearly equal ; the first shorter than sixth, 



I, 248. Muscicapa carolinensis ftisca, BiiissON, Orn. II, 17C0, 367. BlcuJc-headed 

 Flymtcher, Pennant, Arc. ZoiJl. II, 389, 269. Black-cap Flycatcher, Latham, Sy- 

 nopsis, I, 353. Empidias fuscus, Caban. M. H. II, Sept. 1859, 69 (type). — SCL. 

 Catal. 1862, 234. Sayoniis fuscus, Baiko, Birds X. Am. 1858, 1^4. — Samuels, 133. 

 — Allen, B. Fla. 1871, 299. 



Sp. Char. Sides of breast and upper parts dull olive-brown, fading slightly towards 



the tail. Top and sides of head dark brown. 

 A few dull white feathers on the eyelids. 

 Lower parts dull yellowish-white, mixed 

 with brown on the chin, and in some indi- 

 viduals across the breast. Quills brown, the 

 outer primary, secondaries, and tertials 

 edged with dull white. In some individuals 

 the greater coverts faintly edged with dull 

 white. Tail brown ; outer edge of lateral 

 feather dull white ; outer edges of the rest 

 like the back. Tibiie brown. Bill and feet 

 black. Bill slender, edges nearly straight. 

 Tail rather broad and slightly forked. 

 Third quill longest ; second and fourth 

 Length, 7 inches ; wing, 3.42 ; tail. 3.30. 

 Hab. Eastern North America ; Eastern Mexico to Mirador and Orizaba. Cuba (Caban. 



J. lY, 1) ; Xalapa, (.Sol. List, 234) ; Vera Cruz, winter (SoiicnRAST, M. B. S. I, 557) ; 



San Antonio, Texas (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 773, rare). 



In autumn, and occasionally in early s]iring, the color.s are mncli clearer 

 and brighter. Whole lower parts sometimes bright sulphur-yellow ; above, 

 greenish-olive ; top and sides of the head tinged with sooty. In the young 

 of the 3'ear the colors are much duller ; all tlie wing-co\-erts broadly tipped 

 witli light ferruginous, as also the extreme ends of the wings and tail- 

 feathers. The brown is pre\alent on the whole throat and breast ; the hind 

 part of tlie back, rump, and tail strongly ferruginous. 



Habits. The Pewee, or Phcebe-Bird, a well-known harbinger of early 

 spring, is a common species throughout the whole of eastern Xorth Amer- 

 ica, from the liio Grande, on the southwest, to the provinces of Nova Scotia 

 and New Bruus\^•ick on the northeast, and as far west as the Missouri Eiver. 



Dr. Woodliouse found it common both tliroughout Texas and in the In- 

 dian Territory. It was taken by Sumichrast in the Department of Vera 

 Cruz, but he was in doubt wliether it occurs there as a resident or is only 

 migratory. It was observed at San Antonio, Texas, but only as a migrant, 

 by both Dresser and Heermann ; but at Houston, in that State, it evidently 

 remains and breeds, as individuals were seen there in June by Dresser. 

 Specimens were taken in February at Brownsville, Texas, by Lieutenant 

 Couch, and afterwards in March on the opposite side of the river, — in 

 Taniauliiias, IMexico. 



In South Carolina, Dr. Coues found these lurds most common in the 

 montlis of Felmiary and Marcli, and again in (October and November. He 

 had no doubt that some remain and i)ass the winter, and that others are 



