TYRANNID^ — THE FLYCATCHERS. 389 



Leon. In their habits they appeared to be in some respects similar to the 

 smaller northern Flycatchers. 



Dr. Henry also met with these birds in tlie vicinity of Fort Webster, in 

 New Mexico ; lie found them exceedingly rare, and his observations were 

 confirmatory of their partiality for the neighborhood of water. His first 

 specimen was obtained on the Rio Mimbres, near Fort Webster, in the 

 month of March. 



Dr. Woodhouse met with an individual of this Flycatcher near the settle- 

 ment of Quihi, in Texas, in the mouth of May. It was breeding in a thicket. 

 He did not hear it utter any note. 



According to the observations of Mr. Sumichrast, this liird is very 

 abundant throughout the entire Department of Vera Cruz, common every- 

 where, at all heights, in the hot, the temperate, and the alpine regions. ^Ir. 

 Dresser obtained a fine male specimen from the San Pedro Elver, near San 

 Antonio, in August. Another, a young male, was obtained September 25. 

 It was very shy, and made its way through the low bushes like the Hedge 

 Sjiarrow of Europe. A third was obtained April 5, after much difficulty. 

 It was not so shy as the others, but kept more in the open country, always 

 perching on some elevated place. Its note resembled that of the Milvulus 

 forjicatus. 



This bird, according to Dr. Cones, is not found as far to the north as Fort 

 Whipple, among the mountains, though it extends up the valley of the 

 Colorado to an equally high latitude. It is also said to be common in the 

 valley of the Gila and in Southern Arizona generally. 



Mr. E. C. Taylor (Ibis, VI, p. 86) mentions finding this Flycatcher tolera- 

 bly abundant both at Ciudad Bolivar and at Barcelona, but he did not meet 

 with a specimen on the island of Trinidad. He notes its great resemblance 

 in habits to the Muscicapce of Europe. 



Dr. Kennerly reports that these birds were often observed by him at 

 various points on tlie road, from Boca Grande to Los Nogales. It generally 

 selected its perch on the topmost branch of some bush or tree, awaiting the 

 approach of its insect food, and then sallying out to capture it. Sometimes 

 it poised itself in a gracefid. manner in the air, while its bright plumage 

 glistened in the sun like some brightly colored flower. 



Dr. Heermann procured a specimen of this Flycatcher at Fort Yuma, 

 where he was informed that it was quite common in spring. He saw other 

 individuals of this species at Tucson in Sonora. These birds, he states, 

 station themselves upon the topmost branches of trees, and when pursued 

 appear quite wild, flying to a considerable distance before again alighting. 



Dr. Cooper saw at Fort ^Mohave, May 24, a bird which he had no doubt 

 was an individual of this species, but he was not aide to procure it. It 

 perched iipon tlie tops of bu.shes, and would not suffer him to approach within 

 shooting distance. One has since been taken by Mr. W. W. Holden in 

 Colorado Valley, lat. 34°, April 18. 



