244 SHRIEKING BIRDS — STRISOKES. 



fine gray mottling, behind which is another coarser one of rufous spots. A white V- 

 shaped mark on tlie throat ; behind this a colhir of pale rufous blotches, and another on 

 the breast of grayish mottling. Under parts banded transversely with dull yellowish or 



reddish-white and brown "Wing quills quite uniformly brown. Tlie five outer primaries 

 with a white blotch midway between the tip and carpal joint, not extending on the outer 

 web of the outer quill. Tail with a terminal wlnte patch. 



Female without the caudal white patch, the white of the throat mixed with reddish. 

 Length of male, 9.50 ; wing, 8.20. 



Ilab. North America generally. 



This species slums tlie coast border of this State, probably on account of 

 the cold winds, though it is common near the mouth of the Columbia Eiver. 

 In Santa Clara Valley and the Coast Eange I have seen none, but, accord- 

 in"- to ISTewberry, they are quite common in the Sacramento A^alley in sum- 

 mer. I saw but one in the Sierra Nevada in September, the month in which 

 they depart for the South. At the Columbia Eiver they are very numerous, 

 and during June, even on clear days, may be seen pursuing their insect prey 

 hi'di in the air, uttering their monotonoits croaking at short intervals. I 

 saw one, probably of this species, migrating north high above the town 

 of Santa Barbara on the 27tli of April, 186.3, and this is proliably about the 

 time they arrive from Mexico. Their flight is easy and swift, resembling 

 that of a swallow, and they often sweep do^\^l close to a person's head, espe- 

 cially in the twilight. AVlien they have a nest, they attempt to drive away 

 intruders by pitching down perpendicularly towards them, with their mouth 

 wide open, producing a singular hollow sound like that made by blowing 

 into a large bottle. They sometimes alight on the ground in pursuit of in- 

 sects, and also lay two whitish eggs, speckled with brown, in a slight cavity 

 among the dead leaves on the ground, or sometimes among gravel or on the 

 bare sand. They generally roost during the day on a horizontal branch, 

 sitting lengthwise. The female if found on the nest feigns lameness to draw 

 away the intruder. 



