306 BULLETIN 17 9, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Mrs. Bailey (1902b) mentions a rare melanistic phase of plumage 

 that "is uniform dark brown tinged in male with wine purple on 

 crown and lower parts." 



Adults have a complete postnuptial molt in August and September 

 and at least a partial prenuptial molt early in spring. 



Food. — No very comprehensive study of the food of the vermilion 

 flycatcher seems to have been made. Bendire (1895) says: "Its food 

 consists of insects which are mostly caught on the wing; but I have 

 also seen it alight on the ground to pick up a grasshopper or small 

 beetle, returning to its perch afterwards, beating its prey against it, 

 and devouring it at leisure." We often saw it darting out into the 

 air, after the manner of other flycatchers, in pursuit of insects, as 

 well as picking them up from the ground. Both large and small 

 grasshoppers are captured, as well as small beetles, flies, and other 

 small flying insects. When living near apiaries, it has been known to 

 kill many honeybees ; but otherwise its food habits are probably more 

 beneficial than harmful. 



Behavior. — ^We found this flycatcher to be rather tame and un- 

 concerned about our presence, flitting nervously from one perch to 

 another, from some low tree or bush to a tall weed stalk and then 

 back again, making frequent sallies after insects, or executing his 

 spectacular nuptial flights. The male is a bold and fearless fighter 

 in defense of the nest and rather aggressive against intruders. Mr. 

 Dawson (1923) witnessed the following rather peculiar behavior: 

 "In watching the antics of a certain Vermilion dandy, I saw him 

 resort twice to a tiny fork on a horizontal branch, remote from any 

 possible proximity of a mate, and indulge in a very peculiar set of 

 motions, bowing and turning, and lying supine with outstretched 

 wings and dangling feet. Careful reflection showed the act to be 

 an outcropping, through suggestion, of what we call a secondary sex 

 character, viz., a demonstration of the nest-buildiiig instinct, excited 

 by the presence of an especially attractive site." 



Voice. — The flight song, given in courtship, is well rendered by 

 William Beebe (1905) as ''^ching-tinh-a-le-tinky Mr. Dawson (1923) 

 writes it ''Hutty tutty tutty zziingh.'''' Kalph Hoffmann (1927) calls 

 it "a slight call of two or three notes, pitt-a-see^ fntt-a-see^ jerking his 

 head upward at each utterance." However interpreted, it is a strik- 

 ing song, given in an outburst of ecstasy and with considerable ener- 

 getic effort ; it is given by the male alone. 



Both sexes have a short call note that sounds like plsk. Mrs. 

 Wheelock (1904) says that the call "is a characteristic loud and 

 constantly repeated 'peet, peet', or 'peet-ter-weet'." 



Field mofrks. — The male is unmistakable with his bright scarlet 

 crown and breast, in marked contrast with his brown back. The 

 demure female is brown above, with indistinct whitish wing bars, a 



