140 BULLETIN 179, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



the winter season. At this time it is found north to central Sonora 

 (Oposura). 



To the east and south of the range as outlined several other races 

 have been described, and the species itself is found south at least to 

 Ecuador and Colombia. 



Migi^ation. — In Arizona it has been recorded as arriving at Para- 

 dise on April 18, at Tombstone on April 21, and at Pinery Canon 

 in the Chiricahua Mountains, on April 29. A late date of fall 

 departure from Tombstone is September 20. 



Casual records. — Two specimens were taken on the west side of 

 the San Luis Mountains, southwestern New Mexico, on July 13 and 

 17, 1892, and on May 11, 1883, one was collected at Fort Lyon, Colo. 



Egg dates. — Arizona: 14 records, May IT to June 23; 8 records, 

 May 29 to June 13, indicating the height of the season. 



Mexico : 8 records, April 6 to May 25. 



SAYORNIS PHOEBE (Latham) 

 EASTERN PHOEBE 



Pates 14-16 



HABITS 



CONTEIBUTED BY WiNSOE MaEEETT TYLEB 



Spring. — The phoebe arrives in New England from its winter 

 quarters in the Southern States and Mexico about the time of 

 the spring equinox, or a little later in a backward season, when 

 most of the harsh weather is behind us. He comes in full song, 

 flitting alone about his breeding ground. On his northward migra- 

 tion the bird follows so closely the awakening of insect life that we 

 may look for him as soon as we see the little insects beginning to 

 fly about in warm, sheltered corners or around the outbuildings of a 

 farm, and often we find him already here. 



The phoebe is a gentle little bird, dull in plumage with scarcely 

 a field mark. He is light and easy on the wing, making sv/ift, adroit 

 turns and twists and sudden tumblings, something like the graceful 

 silent dodging of a butterfly, and when he alights airily on his perch, 

 his tail keeps swaying loosely, almost as if blown by the wind. He 

 is tame, yet reserved in manner. Althea R. Sherman says of him in 

 her notes, "Phoebe is exceptionally correct in his behavior — without 

 a fault." 



He will stay with us for six months or more. He and his mate 

 may settle in a busy, noisy farmyard, or perhaps far away in some 

 remote, rocky glen, but wherever they nest they will spend a peaceful 

 summer, giving little heed to their neighbors, seemingly happy, 



