260 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



distributed, each pair taking possessiiui of a certain "limit, which 

 is valiantly defended against all intruders, no l)ird, howevei- large, 

 being permitted to come with impunity near where the Kingbird's 

 treasures are deposited. Tt is partial to pasture fields, a favorite 

 perch being the top of a drv mullein stalk. Here the male sits like 

 a sentinel, issuing his sharp note of warning, and occasionally darting 

 off to secure a j)assing insect. When the breeding is over and the 

 young are able to shift for themselves, he gets over his local attach- 

 ments and quietly takes his insect fare wherever he can find it, 

 allowing other birds to do the same. 



The food of this species consists almost entirely of insects, which 

 it takes while on the wing. It' may be considered a frieiul of the 

 farmer, for although it does take a few bees now and then, it more 

 than compensates foi- these by the large number of injuiious insects 

 which it destroys. 



The contents of the twelve stomachs examinetl In* Dr. King, of 

 Wisconsin, were as follows: — Four had eaten seventeen beetles; 

 four, four dragon files ; one, a bee ; one, six crane flies ; one, a large 

 moth ; one, a butterfly ; anfl three, a few raspberries. 



It is common throughout Manitoba and the North-West, retiring 

 .south when its supply of food is cut off by the advance of the sea.son. 



Genus MYIAHCHUS Cabanis. 

 MYIARCHUS CRINITIJS (Linn.). 



1H6. Crested Flycatcher. (452) 



Decidedly olivaceous above, a little Id-owner on the head, wliere the- 

 feathers have dark centres ; throat and fore-breast, pure dark ash, rest of 

 under parts, bright yellow, the two colors meeting abruptly ; primariej* 

 margined on botli edges with chestnut ; secondaries and coverts, edged and 

 tipped with yellowisli-white ; tail, witli all tlie feathers but the central pair, 

 chestnut on tlie whole of tlie inner web, excejjting, perhaps, a very narrow 

 stripe next tlie shaft ; outer web of outer feathers, edged witli yellowish ; the 

 middle feathers, outer webs of the rest, anil wings, except as stated, dusky 

 brown. Very young birds have rufous skirting of many feathers, in addition 

 to tlie chestnut above described, but this sowi disaj)pears. Length, 8^-94 ; 

 wing an<l tail, about 4 ; bill and tarsus, each !^. 



Hah. — Eastern United States and Southern Canada, west to the Plains, 

 soutli through Kastern Mexico to Costa Rica. 



