28G BIRDS OF WESTERN AND 



112. Camptostoma imberbe Scl. 

 Mazatlan, San Bias, Grayson. 



" Shot near San Bias, in the hitter part of June ; found in the vicinity of Mazatlan. Not common, but 

 appears to be resident." 



113. Elainea placens Scl. 



" " Proc. Bost. Soc. of N. H., xiv, p. 279. 



Tres Marias Islands, Grayson. 



" Resident in all localities of the Tres Marias Islands." 



114. Myiozetetes texensis (Giraud). 



Mazatlan, Grayson, Xantus ; Tepic, Grayson ; Plains of Colima, Tonila, Xantus. 



"Like the Bull-headed Flycatcher (Piian^ws derbianits), this also builds a dome-shaped nest, and very 

 large for the size of the bird. The nest is composed of materials similar to the larger kind. It is a little sin- 

 gular that of the numerous flycatchers, these are the only known species that construct their nests in this 

 peculiar form. 



" The Red-crowned Flycatcher is not an uncommon species in the region of Mazatlan, where it may be met 

 with in the sparsely wooded districts, in which there are scattering large trees and stunted thorny underwood, 

 near some fresh water stream or lagoon. 



" The notes are shrill and clear, with but little variation, and wlien uttering them it has a peculiar manner 

 of stretching its neck and casting its head from side to side, whilst its tail is in active motion. The males 

 have frequent combats during the love or breeding season, and they sometimes fall to the ground clinched 

 together in these furious paroxysms of rage ; jealousy seems to be the prime cause of these assault and bat- 

 tery cases, and the victor is rewarded by winning the object of contention. Although it builds its nest in the 

 same tree with other birds, yet it will not be on such intimate terms with its own species. It sits ujion its 

 perch waiting for the passing winged insects of its choice, which it pursues with a rapid flight, the wings 

 making a rustling noise, when in the act of darting on its prey." 



115. Pitanrjus dei'hianus (Kaup.). 



Smirophagus derbianus Finscli, Abh. nat. Ver. zu. Bremen, 1870, p. 329. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson, BiscliofF; Plains of Colima, Xantns. 



"This is a common and abundant species, inhabiting the western and northwestern parts of Mexico. I 

 found it equally as common in Tehuantepec as in the region of Muzatlan, where its loud shrill notes of hii>- 

 se-dee, hip-se-dee, may be heard .at all seasons of the year, but more particularly during the breeding season, 

 when it is excessively garrulous. It is more frequently met with in the neighborhood of fresh water streams 

 and lagoons, and I have often observed them dart into the water after w.ater insects and minnows that were 

 swimming near the surface, not unlike the kingfisher; but they usually pursue and capture on the wing the 

 larger kinds of Coleoptera and Neuroptera, swallowing its prey entire after first beating it a few times against 

 its perch. They are usually in pairs, b\it T have also seen as many as twenty about a stagnant pool, w.atching 

 its turbid water for insects and small fish, for which they seem to have a great partiality. 



" The nest of this species is very large, and its construction differs from all the Tyrannidse of which I have 

 any knowledge, except M. texensis. It is dome-shaped or covered, with the entrance on the side, whilst the 

 other species build a nest saucer-shaped. The nest of the Bull-headed Flycatcher is usually placed in the 

 forks of the branches of very thorny trees, twenty-five or thirty feet from the ground ; it is composed of very 

 coarse material of either straw or lichens, sometimes of both ; the lining, however, is of firmer and more 

 elastic fibres. Other birds sometimes make their nests in the same or nearest tree ; such as J/ texensis, O. 

 melanictems and I. pustulatus. 



" The eggs of this flycatcher are usually five in number ; they are of moderate size, rather lengthened, of a 

 light cream color, with a small reddish speck ; the shell is delicate and easily broken." 



