362 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



mingled witli hemp-like fibres of plants, stems, and fine dry trasses. The 

 rim is firmly wrought of strong wiry stems, and a large portion ol' tlic iiin^'r 

 nest is of the same material. The whole is warmly and tlioroughl)- lined 

 witli the soft fine hair of small ([iiadrupeds and with vegetable fibres. 



According to Mr. liidgway, this is the most abundant and generally diffused 

 of all the Tyrannuli of the (ireat Basin, as well as of California. It inhab- 

 its every grove of the lowest valleys, as well as the highest aspen co]ises on 

 the mountains in the alpine region, and breeds abundantly in all these 

 places. Eesembling the eastern C. rircns in its general habits, its ajipearance, 

 and its every motion, it yet differs most widely from it in notes, the com- 

 mon one being a disagreeable weird squeak, very unlike the sad, wailing, 

 but not unpleasant one of the eastern Wood Pewee. Mr. liidgway relates 

 that ba^^ing shot a female bird, and taken her nest and eggs, he was surprised, 

 a few days afterwards, to find the male with another mate, and a new nest 

 built in precisely the same spot from which the other had been taken. 

 Upon climbing to the nest, it was found to contain one egg ; and the parents 

 exhibited very unusual distress. When visited two or three days after, it 

 was found to be deserted and the egg broken. 



The eggs, three in numlier, measure .69 of an inch in length and .53 in 

 breadth. They have a ground of beautiful cream-color slightly tinged with 

 a roseate tint, surrounded at the larger end with a wreath of purple and 

 reddish-brown spots. A few smaller markings are sparingly distributed, but 

 nearly all are about the larger end. 



Genus EMPIDONAX, Cadanis. 



Empidonax, Cabanis, Journal fiir Ornithologie, III, Nov. 1855, 480. (Type, Tijrannula 

 jnisiUa. ) Tyrannula of most authors. 



Gen. Char. Tarsus lengthened, considerably longer than the bill, and exceeding the 



middle toe, which is decidedly longer than 

 the hind toe. Bill variable. Tail very 

 slightly forked, even, or rounded; a little 

 shorter only than the wings, which are 

 considerably rounded ; the first primary 

 much shorter than the fourth. Head 

 moderately crested. Color olivaceous 

 above, yellowish beneath ; throat generally 



The lengthened tarsi, the short 

 toes, the .short and rounded wings, 

 and the plain dull olivaceous of the 

 En,pidonaa: acadicus. plumage, readily distinguish the 



species of this genus from any other North American Flycatchers. The 

 upper plates of the tarsi in a good many species do not encii'cle the outside, 

 but meet there a row on the posterior face. 



