THE BIRD BOOK 



PERCHING BIRDS. Order XVII. PASSERES 



COTINGAS. Family COTINGIDAE 



[441.1.] Xantus Becard. Platypsaris aglaice albiventris. 



Range. — Mexico; north casually to the southern border of Arizona. 



This peculiar species is grayish above and lighter gray below, has dark slaty 

 crown, and a patch of rose color on the lower tliroat. This 

 is the only representative of this tropical family that has 

 been found as yet over the Mexican border, but its near 

 ally, the Rose-throated Becard has been found within a 

 very few miles and will doubtless be added to our fauna 

 as an accidental visitor ere long. Their nests are large 

 masses of grasses, weeds, strips of bark, etc., partially 

 suspended from the forks of branches. Their eggs number 

 four or five and are a pale buffy gray color, dotted and scratched with a pale 

 reddish brown and dark gray. Size .95 x .70. The one figured is from a set 

 in the collection of Mr. Crandall, taken June 1, 1897 at Presidio Sinaloa, Mexico. 



Buffy gray 



FLYCATCHERS. Family TYRANNID^ 



Flycatchers, which are found only in America and chiefiy in the tropics, are 

 insect-eating birds, generally having a grayish colored plumage, sometimes 

 adorned with a slight crest or a coronal mark of orange, red. or yellow. Only 

 two of the species found in North America are gaudy in plumage, the Vermil- 

 ion, and the Derby Flycatchers. They all have the habit of sitting erect on a 

 dead twig, and watching for passing insects, which they catch on the wing. 



[442.] Fork-tailed Flycatcher. Muscivora tryannus. 



Range. — A Central and South American species accidentally having occurred 

 in the United States on several occasions. 



This is a handsome black, white and gray species of the size and form of the 

 next. 



>W( 



280 



