ZOOLOGY BIRDS. 37 



are unable to penetrate. Hence they seek out the holes and crevices in the dwelling-houses of 

 the town, there to build their nests and raise their young. Somewhat puzzled to comprehend 

 why these birds frequented and flew so constantly in the back court of the Plaza House, as they 

 generally wander over the prairies and in the vicinity of water in search of their food, I watched 

 them and perceived several dart between the curtains enclosing a piazza, and disappear in large 

 cracks of the wall, where the twittering of their nestlings welcoming their return at once 

 explained the mystery. 



TYRANNUS VERTICALIS, Say.— Arkansas Fly- catcher. 



Tyrannus vertkalis, Say, Long's Exped. vol. II, p. 60. — Baird, Gea. Rep. IX. 



Muscicapa vertkalis, Bonap. Am. Orn. vol. I, p. 18, pi. 2, fig. 2. — Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. I, p. 199, pi. 54. — 

 NuTT. Orn. vol. I, p. 273. 



Very abundant, replacing in California the Tyrannus intrepidus, Vieill., or king-bird of our 

 eastern States, as he unrelentingly pursues and drives away all hawks and crows that encroach 

 on his domain. The nest is the counterpart of that of the king-bird, being constructed of the 

 same material, while the eggs so resemble those of that species that, placed side by side, it is 

 impossible to distinguish between the two unless previously marked. 



SAYORNIS SAYUS, R i c h .—Say's Fly-catcher. 



Tyrannula sat/a, Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. IT, p. 142, pi. 45. 



Muscicapa saya, Bonap. Am. Orn. vol. I, p. 20, pi. 2, fig. 3. — Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. I, p. 217, pi. 59.— Nutt. 



Orn. vol. I, p. 277. 

 Sayomis layus, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 185. 



We met this bird abundantly in southern California, where, in the course of a day's hunt, I 

 have killed five or six of them. It is more especially plentiful in the fall, at the time of its 

 migration southward. I found this species in New Mexico, in the northern part of Texas, near 

 El Paso, and, though somewhat rare in Sacramento valley, I there procured two specimens. In 

 migrating it prefers the deep valleys bordered by high hills, but is found also on the open plains, 

 where, perched on the stalk of some dead weed or on a prominent rock, it darts forth in pursuit 

 of its prey, to return again to its point of observation. 



CONTOPUS BOREALIS, Rich.— Cooper's Fly-catcher. 



Tyrannus borealis, Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. vol. II, p. 141, pi. 35. 



Muscicapa eooperii, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. I, p. 212, pi. 58. — Nutt. Orn. vol. I, p. 282. 



Centoptis cooperi, Baird, Gen. Eep. IX, 188. 



Although I have not myself seen this species in California, a friend of mine procured two 

 specimens on the Cosumnes river, one of which he presented to me. Both proved to be females. 



MYIARCHUS MEXICANUS, K a u p .—Ash-colored Fly-catcher. 



Tyrannula cinerascena, Lawrence, Annala of N. Y. Lyceum, Sept. 1851, p. 121. 



Tyrannula meximna, Kahp. 



Myiarchus inexkarms, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 179. 



Abundant. The individuals obtained for the collection were shot near Posa creek. Of shy 

 and retiring habits, it prefers the deep shady forests, where its insect food abounds. The 

 nest, found in the hollow of a tree or in a deserted squirrel or woodpecker's hole, is composed 

 of grasses lined with feathers. The eggs, five in number are cream color, marked and speckled 

 with purplish red dashes and faint neutral tint blotches. 



