CONSPICUOUSLY BLACK AND WHITE 381 



about a foot up in the rock, and then there was a small 

 cleft in which it was placed. It was so firmly glued to 

 the rock that it could not be pulled off without tearing 

 it to pieces. The materials of which it was constructed 

 felt soft and spongy ; there were no sticks or twigs in 

 it, and it was lined with a few feathers. Evidently it 

 had been in use during more than one season, as the 

 vegetable matter was quite disintegrated." 



458 a. WESTERN BLACK PHCF.BK. — Sat/omh- nigri- 

 cans semiatra. 



Family : The Flycatchers. 



Length: 6.25-7.00. 



Adults : Entire plumage slate-black, except for white belly ; outer web 

 of tail-feathers and under tail-coverts white. 



Young: Similar to adults, but wing-coverts tipped with liglit rusty. 



Geographical Distribution: Pacitic coast from Mexico to Oregon ; east- 

 ward nearly to Southern Texas. 



California Breeding Range: In lower Sonoran zone from latitude 28° 

 northward. 



Breeding Season: April 1.5 to June 15. 



Nest: A compact though bulky ma.ss of mud mixed with dried grass, 

 weed fibre, and hair ; lined with soft feathers ; attached to rocks, 

 beams of buildings, or bridges. 



Eggs: 3 to 6 ; white, sometimes finely speckled with reddish brown 

 around the larger end. 



The Black Plioebe resembles the Eastern phoebe even 

 more than does tlie Say. It builds about human habita- 

 tions near water, and uses mud in the construction of 

 its nest, which is on the same plan, though hicking the 

 beauty, of tliat of the Eastern variety. Like the hitter, it is 

 greatly attached to a locality once used as a nesting site, 

 and returns to it year after year, repairing the old nest 



