FLYCATCHERS 259 



less than twice the width of bill at nostril. Young : with buflFy or brown- 

 ish wing- bars. Lenyth : (').20-().7i'). iving 'J. 15-^.55, tail i^.50-J. 95, exposed 

 cnlm^^Mi .44-.51, width of bill at base .2T-.o2, tarsus .49-.56. 



Remarks. — In richardsonii the wings and tail are slig-htly longer than 

 in C. virens. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Transition zone from the Plains to the Pacific, 

 and from the interior of British America to Lower California ; migrates 

 to South America. 



Nest. — Saddled on horizontal limb of orchard or forest tree, 6 to 40 

 feet from the ground ; made of wood, plant fibers, down, inner bark, sage. 

 and grass tops, rarely lined with a few feathers, and sometimes covered 

 with spider's web. Eggs : 2 to 4, white, irregularly wreathed around the 

 larger end with blotches and minute specks of brown and purple. 



Food. — Flies and other insects, with a few wild berries. 



In tlie lower Canadian zone forests the western wood pewee is 

 frequently met with, and in tlie JNIurray pine meadows of the Sierra 

 is one of the commonest birds seen. It sits with its long thin body 

 ereet, and as it watches for insects gives its quiet call, well rendered 

 by Dr. Merrill as tweer or deer. In Arizona its setting is altogether 

 different, mesquite and yucca stalks being its principal perches. 



GENUS EMPIDONAX. 



General Characters. — Wing less than o."25, not more than /**^\ j^ 

 five times as long as tarsus. / 



Fig. 335. 

 KEY TO ADULT MALES. 



1. Under ])arts huffy. Arizona and New Mexico . . pygmaeus. p. 26o. 

 r. Under parts wbitish or sulphur yellow. 



2. Width of bill at nostrils decidedly greater than half the 

 exposed culmen. 



o. Under parts wholly yellowish or brownish. '^" " 



4. Louder parts darker, washed with brown . diflBcllls. p. 2(30. 



4 . lender parts lighter, with little or no brown wash. Santa Bar- 



l)ara I.slands ilisulicola. p. 2()0. 



'■') . Under parts partly white. 



4. \Ving 2.;iO-2.r,0 ; tail distinctly eniarginate. liocky Mountains 



to Atlantic minimus, p. 2(5 1. 



4'. Wing 2.<i()-;;.()() ; tail men or slightly rounded. 



'). Colors weaker; bill longer and narrower . . traillii. p. 200. 

 ')'. Colors stronger; bill shorter and broader. Eastern. 



alnorum. p. 201 . 

 2 . Wi<ltli of bill ;it nostrils not greater th.in half tlie exposed culmen. 



iJill narrower hammondi, p. 202. 



IJill broader. Fij?. 337. 



1. Uiidei niandil)le blackish .... wrightli, p. 20)2. 



r. Cnder n.an.lihl.- tlesh-.-..lore<I. tipprd with blaek. Moun- '*''»■ ^^• 

 taiuH uf .sniitlieiii .Vri/on.i griseus. p. 2t),j. 



