260 FLYCATCHERS 



the Arkansas, it also breeds at higher altitudes, and is, apparently, 

 more a bird of the mountains. 



GENUS PITANGUS. 



449. PitangUS derbianus (Kaup). Derby Flycatcher.^ 



Bill as long- as head, straight, narrow ; wings rounded ; tail shorter 

 than wings, nearly even ; tarsus about as long- as middle toe and claw ; 

 under parts, except for white throat, and including under wing coverts, 

 bright sulphur yellow ; top and sides of head black, separated by white 

 line which incloses black crown ; crown erectile, with partly concealed 

 vellow center ; rest of upper parts brown, rufoixs on wings and tail. 

 Length: 10-11, wing 4.90-5.10, tail 3.90-4.00, exposed culmen 1.15-1.25. 



Distribution. — Breeds from Central America to the lower Rio Grande 

 Valley in Texas ; migrates to northern South America. 



Nest. — Dome-shaped, with entrance on the side, composed of such 

 coarse materials as straw and lichens ; placed usually on forks of branches 

 or thorny trees, 25 or 30 feet from the ground. Eggs : generally 5, light 

 cream color with small reddish specks. 



Food. — Mainly insects, but also small fish — minnows. 



The derby flycatcher is rather a rare summer visitor in the lower 

 Rio Grande Valley in Texas. 



GENUS MYIODYNASTES. 



451. Myiodynastes luteiventris Sd. Sulphur-bellied Fly- 

 catcher. 



Bill turgid, broader than high at nostrils ; wings long and pointed ; 

 tail shorter than wings, neai'ly even ; feet small and weak. Adults : broad 

 blackish A from bill inclosing white throat patch ; rest of under parts sul- 

 phur yellow, streaked along sides ; upper parts brownish, streaked with black ; 

 head with concealed yellow crown patch and white or yellowish bands 

 over eye and along sides of throat ; rump and tail bright rufous ; bill very 

 broad. Yoimg : without crown patch. Length : 7.75-8.00, wing 4.25-4.60, 

 tail 3.30-3.(30, bill .80-.90. 



Distribution. — From the mountains of southern New Mexico and Ari- 

 zona south to Panama. 



Nest. — 25 to 50 feet from the ground, a hole in a sycamore, lined 

 thickly with stems of walnut leaves. Fggs : 3, creamy buff, profusely 

 blotched, principally around the larger end, with purple and reddish 

 brown. 



Mr. Lusk, who found the sulphur-bellied flycatcher in Arizona, 

 states that they frequent streams bordered with large trees. " The 

 width and size of their bills, together with their short necks," he 

 says, " gives them a peculiar appearance even at a distance." Mr. 

 O. W. Howard found the birds very quiet during the breeding sea- 

 son, but bold and noisy afterwards. He compares their notes to the 

 squeaking of a wheelbarrow. 



1 [450.] 3ryioze(etf's similis sKperciliosus (Bouni^.). Giraud Flycatcher. Tliis species 

 is omitted from doubt of Giraud's Texa.s record. 



