THE ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER. 377 



General Range. — Western United States and northern Mexico, north ir- 

 regularly to Washington ; south in winter thru Mexico to Guatemala. 



Range in Washington. — Breeding near North Yakima in summer of 1903; 

 one other record, Tacnma May 24, 1905. 



' Authorities. — Snodgrass (R. E.), Auk. \'ol. XXI, Apr. 1904, p. 229. B. 



Specimens. — 1'. C. 



FLYCATCHERS are somewhat given to wandering, or at least exploring, 

 on their own account, regardless of traditions. A Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus 

 doiniiiici'usis) . normally confined to the Gulf of Mexico, is of record for Cape 

 Beale on \'ancouver Island ; and that dashing gallant, the Scissor-tailed Fly- 

 catcher, of Texas, has \'entured as far north as Hudsoii Bay. The Ash- 

 throated Flycatcher is typically a bird of the south-western United States; 

 but it is not altogether surprising that it should have extended its northern 

 range into the Upper Sonoran belt of eastern ^^'ashington, as it did in the 

 season of 1903, when it was observed at North Yakima b}- ]\Ir. Bowles, and, 

 independenth'. b\' 'Slv. Robert E. Snodgrass, the latter collecting for Pullman- 

 College. Without precedent or excuse, liowever, was the appearance of a 

 handsome jiair near Tacoma, as recorded by Mr. Bowles, on the 24th day of 

 May, 1905. 



"The Ash-throated Flycatcher is quite expert upon the wing but never 

 indulges. in protracted flight if it can help it. It seems to be rather cpiarrel- 

 some and intolerant in its disposition toward other birds, and will not allow 

 an}- to nest in close proximity : in fact, I am inclined to believe that it not in- 

 fref|uentl\- dispossesses some of tlie smaller Woodpeckers of their nesting sites. 



"Its food consists mainly of beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers, flies, moths, 

 and occasionally of berries, especially those of a species of mistletoe. 



"By the beginning of May most of the birds ai"e mated, and nidification 

 begins shortly afterward. The nests are usually placed in knot-holes of 

 mesquite, ash, oak, sycamore, juniper, and cottonwood trees, as well as in 

 cavities of old stumps, in Woodpeckers' holes, and occasionally behind loose 

 pieces of bark, in the manner of the Creepers. 



"The Ash-throated FI\xatcher nests at various heights from the ground, 

 rarely, however, at greater distances than twenty feet. The nest varies con- 

 siderably in bulk according to the size of the cavity used. \\'here this is large 

 the liottom is filled up with small weed-stems, rootlets, grass, and bits of dry 

 cow- or horse-manure, and on this foundation the nest proper is built. This 

 consists principally of a felted mass of hair and fur from different animals, 

 and occasionally of exu\i;c of snakes and small lizards : but these materials are 

 not nearly as generally used as in the nests of our eastern Crested Flycatcher — 

 it fact, it is the exception and not the rule to find such remains in their 

 nests" ( Bendire). 



