LAND BIRDS. 399 



and over the Mexican Plateau to Puebla and central Vera Cruz. Accidental 

 in Massachusetts. 



This bird seems to be purely accidental in Michigan. But one capture 

 is recorded, a specimen taken by Rev. Chas. Fox at Owosso, Shiawassee 

 county, in July, 1853. This capture seems to have been the source of 

 several distinct records, one by Stockwell, in Forest and Stream, another 

 by Miles, in his list of 1860; and this in turn quoted by Swales, 1903, but 

 the locality given as Grosse Isle. Dr. Miles says of his own list "The species 

 in the catalogue marked 'a' were obtained at Grosse Isle, Wayne county, 

 by Prof. Fox and are given on his authority." In this list Say's Flycatcher 

 is preceded by an "a" and it is therefore possible that a second specimen 

 was taken at Grosse Isle, though it seems more likely that the intention 

 was merely to indicate that it was one of Fox's records. Miles' statement 

 is perfectly clear as to the Owosso specimen, and it would be a remarkable 

 coincidence if|Fox should have taken a second specimen of this bird at 

 Grosse Isle. Unfortunately Fox's original list, which was almost certainly 

 pubhshed, cannot be found. The color of this bird is so unlike that of any 

 other flycatcher that it can hardly be mistaken, but there is little likelihood 

 that it will be met with again in Michigan. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult: "Lateral tail-feathers edged with whitish; belly light cinnamon or tawny 

 ochraceous. Above light brownish gray, the tail black; anterior lower parts light brownish 

 gray, posterior portions light cinnamon or tawny ochraceous; length about 7.50 to 8.05 

 inches; wing 3.90 to 4.25; tail, 3.35 to 3.75" (Ridgway). 



181. Olive-sided Flycatcher. Nuttallornis borealis (Swains.). (459) 



Synonyms: Nuttall's Pewee. — Tyrannus borealis, Swains., 183L — Muscicapa inornata, 

 Nutt. — Contopus boreahs, Baird. 



Known by the conspicuous tuft of white fluffy feathers on the flank 

 together with its comparatively large size, seven to eight inches long. It 

 is not likely to be confounded with anything except the Wood Pewee, 

 which is smaller and unstreaked on the under parts. 



Distribution. — North America, breeding from the northern and higher 

 mountainous parts of the United States northward to British Columbia 

 and the Saskatchewan River. In winter south to Central America, 

 Columbia and northern Peru. 



This is one of our rarer flycatchers, occurring in the southern half of 

 the state as a migrant only, passing through during the latter half of May 

 and returning from the north late in August. Like many other migrants 

 it seems to be more frequently observed near the lake shores on the east 

 and west sides of the state. In Ottawa county Dr. Gibbs recorded 

 it on May 21, 1879, May 17, 1880, May 9, 1882 and May 25, 1883. One was 

 seen in Kalamazoo county, May 22, 1885. Prof. Frank Smith records it 

 at Macatawa, Ottawa county, as follows: One specimen each on August, 17 

 1903, and August 21, 1904, and one specimen August 15, 1905. There is 

 a pair in the museum of the University of Michigan taken near Ann Arbor, 

 May 28, 1896. 



Throughout the higher parts of the northern half of the Lower Peninsula 

 this bird occurs sparingly as a summer resident. Widmann met with it 

 near Harbor Springs, Emmet county, in July, 1901 ; S. E. White took a s^Deci- 



