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PERCHING BIRDS 



445. Gray Kingbird. 



Tyr annus (Jominicensis. 



Range. — West Indies; north in April to Flor- 

 ida and the South Atlantic States to South 

 Carolina and casually farther. 



This species is slightly larger than our King- 

 bird, (9 inches long), grayish instead of dark 

 drab above, white below, and without any 

 white ti]) to tail. Like 

 the common Kingbird, it __ 



has a concealed orange 

 patch on the crown. Their 

 habits and nesting habits 

 are the same as those of 

 our common bird, but the 

 nest is not generally as 

 well built, and nearly al- 

 ways is made largely of 



twigs. The three or four eggs have a creamy 

 or a creamy pink ground color, spotted and 

 blotched with dark brown and lilac, most num- 

 erously about the large end. Size 1.00 x .!?>. 

 Tarpon Springs, Florida, May 28, 1802. Nest of twigs and weeds in a low bush. 

 Collector, J. A. Southley. 



446. Couch's Kingbird. Tyranmts melancholicus couchi. 

 Range. — Mexico, north in summer to southern Texas. 

 This species is very similar to the next but the throat 



and breast are white, and the underparts a brighter yel- 

 low. Like the other members of this genus, these build 

 their nests in any location in trees or bushes, making them 

 of twigs, weeds and moss. Their three or four eggs havi' 

 a creamy ground with a pinkish cast and are spotted 

 with brown and lilac. Size .97 x .12. 



Buff 



Creamy 



Gray ivinjiljird 



Arkansas Kingbird 



H<7. Arkansas Kingbird. 

 Tyr annus verticalis. 



Range. — Western United States and southern 

 British Provinces from Kansas and Minnesota 

 west to the Pacific. 



This species has grayish upper parts, shad- 

 ing into darker on the wings and tail, and 

 lighter on the throat and upper breast; the 

 underparts are yellow, and there is a concealed 

 patch of orange on the crown. They are very 

 abundant throughout the west, where they 

 have the same familiar habits of the eastern 

 species, nesting in all sorts of locations such as 

 would be used by the latter. Their nests are 

 made of plant fibres, weeds, string, paper or 

 any trash that may be handy, being sometimes 

 quite bulky. Their eggs do not differ in any 

 particular from those of the eastern bird, ex- 

 cept that they may average a little smaller. 

 Size .95X.65. 

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