PERCHING BIRDS 



460. CouEs's Flycatcher. Myiochanes pertinax pallidiventris. 



Range. — Western Mexico, breeding north to central Arizona. 



This Flycatcher builds one of the most artistic nests created by feathered 

 creatures. It bears some resemblance on the exterior to that of the next species, 

 but it is much more firmly made, and the walls are usually 

 higher, making a very deeply cupped interior. The outside 

 of the nest is made of fibres, cobwebs, catkins, etc., firmly 

 felted together and ornamented with green lichens to match 

 the limb upon which it is saddled. The interior is heavily 

 lined with dried, yellowish grasses, making a very strong con- 

 trast to the exterior. They are fairly abundant birds in the 

 ranges of southern Arizona, where they nest generally during Cream color 

 June. They lay three eggs of a rich creamy color, spotted and blotched, chiefly 

 about the larger end, with reddish brown and lilac gray. Size .95 x .61. Data. — 

 Huachuca Mts., Arizona, July 8, 1897. 3 eggs. Nest in a yellow pine about 60 

 feet up and near the extremity of a long slender limb. Elevation 7000 feet. 

 Collector, O. W. Howard. 



461. Wood Pewee. Myiochanes virens. 



Range. — North America, east of the Plains '-— - - • - 

 and north to Ihe southern parts of the British 

 Provinces. Winters south of the United States. 

 This is one of the best 



known and one of the most 



common frequenters of open 



woods, where all summer 



long its pleasing notes may 



be heard, resembling "Pee-a- 



wee" or sometimes only two 



syllables "pee-wee." They 

 nest on horizontal limbs at elevations of six 

 feet or over, making handsome nests of plant 

 fibres and fine grasses, covered on the exterior 

 with lichens; they are quite shallow and very 

 much resembles a small knot on the limb of 

 the tree. They lay three or four eggs of a 

 ceram color spotted in a wreath about the 

 large end, with reddish brown and lavender; 

 size .80 X .55. Data. — Torringtou, Conn., June 

 16, 1890. Nest of fibres covered with licheiu . 

 saddled on the branch 01 an oak tree neai- 

 roadside. Collector, John Gath. 



-i^^Sjfe-^v 



Cream coloi' 



Chickadee Family 

 291 



