2^32 SINGING BIRDS— OSCIXES. 



Hah. Kiu Grande, Kuw Mexico, west to Sau Diego, Calilbruia ; uortli to lat. 39°, in 

 California. 



Tliis bird, wliicli is in habits and ajDjiearance much more like the fly- 

 catchers than tlie wax-wings, is yet connected with the latter more closely 

 in structure, and has even some sweet notes, indicating a greater affinity to 

 the Oscincs than to the Clamatorcs. 



On the Colorado I found them numerous, especially in -winter, and they 

 do not migrate much south of lat. S5°, though found in sunnner as far north 

 at least as Cosumnes liiver. (Heermanu.) I also found them rather com- 

 mon along the Moja\-e Eiver iu Decemberj and south of Los i\jageles to Sau 

 Diego in summer. 



They prefer the vicinity of the trees on Avhich the mistletoe grows, as its 

 berries form much of their food during the whole year, but they also watch 

 for insects from the summit of some low tree, occasionally flying after one, 

 and pursuing it in a zigzag course, very much like the Sayornis nigricans. 

 They almost constantly utter a loud cry of alarm or warning, and when 

 pursued are very wild, requiring mucli artifice in winter to shoot them. 

 If wounded, they conceal themselves so fully iu the thick tufts of mistletoe 

 as to be found with much difficulty. 



jMany left the Colorado Valley early in April, Init a few pairs remained, 

 and the males uttered a few short musical notes rather like those of the 

 Myiarchus, but sweeter. On the 25th of April I found a nest built on a 

 branch of the mesquite (Algamhia), twelve feet from the ground. 



When at rest they have the same habit as the pewees of jerking the tail 

 and erecting their crest. When flying, the white spot on the spread wings 

 becomes very conspicuous ; and in the deserts along the ]\Iojave Eiver, 

 every thicket of inescjuite was frequented by one or more of them, some 

 being constantly on the wing, iu their gyratory flight after insects, giving 

 some appearance of life to those otherwise desolate regions in winter. 



It was found by the late Captain Feilncr, at Fort Crook, in April, 1860, 

 and was probably migratory in that northern and elevated region. It does 

 not seem to occur near the coast in the northern half of California. 



