THE WESTERN FLYCATCHER. 385 



Spokane, is a t_\pical resort and a mere tynj can see three or four nesls there 

 on a June day. 



The Pewee takes the puhhc ipiite into her confidence in nest biulchng. 

 Not only does she Ijuih.l in the open, without a x'estige of leafv cover, but 

 wlien she is fully freighted with nesting material, she flies straight to the 

 nest and proceeds to arrange it with perfect nonchalance. If a nest with eggs 

 is discovered in tlie bird's absence, she is quite likely to return and settle to 

 her eggs without a troubled thought. 



The nest is a moderately deep, well-made cup of hemp, fine bark-strips, 

 grasses, and similar soft substances; and it is usuall\- saddled upon a hori- 

 zontal limb of pine, larch, maple, alder, oak, asjjen, cottonwood, etc. But, 

 occasionally, the nest is set in an upright cnitch of a willow or some dead 

 sapling. Xests ha\-ing such support are naturall\- deeijer than saddled nests, 

 but the characteristic feature of both sorts is the choice of a site, Cjuite 

 remo\"ed from the protection of leaves. The gravish tone of the bark in 

 the host tree is always accurately matched in the choice of nesting materials 

 and, if the result can be secured in no other way, the exterior of the nest 

 is elaborately draped with cobwebs. 



All eggs appear beautiful to the seasoned oolngist, but few surpass in 

 dainty elegance the three cream}- o\-als of the Pewee, with their spotting of 

 quaint old browns and subdued lavenders. Thev are genuine antiques, and 

 the connoisseur must pause to enjoy them e\en tho he honors the prior rights 

 of -\Ir. and Mrs. AI. Ricliarilsiiiiii. 



No. 148. 



WESTERN FLYCATCHER, 



A. O. U. No. 464. Empidonax diftlcilis P.aird. 



Synonym. — \\'esterx YKLLOW-BELLiiiD Flyc.\tciiER. 



Description. — ^-Idnlts: Above and on sides of breast olive or olive-green ; 

 a lighter shade of same color continued across breast ; remaining underparts 3'el- 

 low (between sulphur and primrose), sordid on throat and sides, clearest on 

 abdomen; bend of^wing sulphur-yellow; a faint yellowish eye-ring; axillaries and 

 lining of wings paler yellow; middle coverts and tips of greater coverts, continu- 

 ous with edging of exposed secondaries, yellowish gray, forming two more or 

 less conspicuous wing-bars. Bill brownish black above, yellow below: feet and 

 legs brownish dusky; iris brown. Young birds are browner above and paler 

 below; wing-bars cinnamon-buff}-, (and not certainly distinguishable in color from 

 young of E. trciillii). Length 5.50-6.00 (139. 7-152. 4) ; wing 2.64 (67) ; tail 2.24 

 (■57); bill .47 (12) ; tarsus .67 (17). 



Recognition Marks. — \A'arbler size; characterized by pervading vellowness; 



