DERBY FLYCATCHER 97 



several local names are based; Dickey and van Rossem (1938) state 

 that "some of them are 'Bien-te-veo,' 'Dich-oso-fui' (sometimes inter- 

 preted as 'Kiss-ka-dee') , and 'Chio'." 



Mr. van Rossem (1914) says elsewhere: "As is the case with many 

 other common and well-known varieties, the native name of 'Chio' 

 is derived from the Derby's call note, which may best be written 

 che-oh, or chee-o, generally given rather slowly, but under stress 

 of excitement or anger losing entirely its deliberate quality and be- 

 coming shrill and hurried. At such times, too, and particularly at the 

 nest where the parents become almost frantic, these notes are 

 interspersed and plentifully larded with extremely Kingbird-like 

 expletives." 



Field marks. — The large size and heavy build of the Derby fly- 

 catcher, its crown striped with black, white, and yellow, its conspicu- 

 ous white throat, the absence of gray on its chest, and the rufous in 

 the wings and tail should serve to distinguish it from any of the 

 yellow-breasted kingbirds with which it might be confused. Its 

 behavior, posture, and voice are all distinctive. 



Enemies. — Dr. Beebe (1905) relates the following story: 



The unfortunate end of the piscatory Derby Flycatcher came about in this 

 way. Some of the Raccoons usually made their way directly to the water, and 

 drank and splashed about in the darkness. One evening it happened that the 

 Derby was fishing from a sand-bar on the opposite bank. One of the coons 

 must have stealthily made his way through the underbrush to within a short 

 distance of the preoccupied flycatcher. Suddenly we heard a loud rustle and 

 the poor bird gave utterance to the most piercing screams, which echoed and 

 reechoed from cliff to cliff. The bedraggled feathers of the bird doubtless 

 rendered it an easy prey. An instant more and a dead silence settled over all. 

 Next morning we found a pile of yellow feathers, and the telltale bear-like foot- 

 prints of the animal. The Raccoon returned the following night, but the bird, 

 which he found ready slain, was tied to the pedal of a steel trap, and by the 

 law of fate we enjoyed a delicious stew, made from the fattest of coons. The 

 Derby was avenged. 



Dr. Friedmann (1929) cites two authorities who claim that the 

 Derby flycatcher has been imposed upon by the red-eyed cowbird, 

 but says: "Probably it is seldom parasitized as it is a large, pugna- 

 cious bird eminently able to keep off any unwelcome visitors." 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — South America and Central America, north to southern 

 Texas ; nonmigratory. 



The range of the Derby flycatcher extends north to southern Sonoru 

 (Alamos) ; southern Texas (Devils Lake, Hidalgo, Lomita, and 

 Brownsville) ; Yucatan (Temax) ; northern Colombia (Barranquilla, 

 Bonda, and Rio Hacha) ; northern Venezuela (San Julian and Ciudad 

 Bolivar); and Guiana (Georgetown, Paramaribo, and Cayenne). 



