38 U. S. p. R. R. EXr. AND SURVEYS — ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA. 



SAYORNIS NIGRICANS, Swains .—Rocky Mountain Fly-catcher. 



Tyrannula nigricans, Swains. Synop. Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag. N. S. vol. I, p. auT. 

 Mmeicapa nigricans, Ali) I$. of A. Oct. vol. I, p. 218, pi. CO. 

 Sayornis nigricans, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 183. 



Abundant throughout all California, constructing its nest in like situations as our Tyrannula 

 nunciola, Wils. It seems to have a marked predilection for the vicinity of streams or lakes, 

 where it is nearly always to be seen, perched upon a stake or branch, occasionally darting in 

 the air for an insect, then returning to the same place to renew its watch and repeat its 

 manoeuvres. The nest, composed of mud and mosses, lined with hair, is placed against the 

 rocks, the rafters of a house or bridge, or against the inside of a large hollow tree, and the eggs, 

 four or five in number, are pure white, speckled with red. 



TYRANNULA TRAILLII, Aud .—Traill's Fly-catcher. 



Mwsdcapa trailli, Aud B. of A. Oct. vol. I, p. 234, pi. 65. 



Muscicapa trailli, Aud. B. of A. Fol. pi. 45. 



Abundant. 



PYROCEPHALUS RUBINEUS, Bo ddaert.— Scarlet-crowned Fly-catcher. 



Pyrocephalits rubineus, Cassin'b Illust. B. of Tex. & Cal. p. 127, pi. 18. — Baird, Gen. Eep. IX, 201. 

 Miacicapa rubineus, Bodd. Tab. de« PI. Enl. Buff p. 42. 



I bad the good fortune to procure at Fort Yuma a specimen of this brilliantly plumaged but 

 small fly-catcher, which Dr. Milhau, United States army, informed me is there quite common 

 in spring. The plumage of the specimen procured is not brilliant, owing probably to a deformity 

 in its bill, which is crossed as in the cross-bill, thereby preventing the bird from obtaining a 

 sufficient supply of food for its proper nutriment. I saw another specimen in Tucson, Sonora, 

 Mexico, but did not obtain it. It stations itself upon the topmost branches of trees, and when 

 pursued, appears wild, flying to a considerable distance before again alighting. This bird forms 

 an interesting item for our list, as it proves to be a new species to add to the ornithological 

 fauna of California. 



MYIADESTES TOWNSENDII, A u d .— Townsend's Ptilogonys. 



Ptilogonya tmonsendii, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. I, p. 243, pi. 69.— Aud. B of A. Fol. pi. 411). 

 Myiadeates townstndii, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 321. 



Although I procured several specimens during my previous stay in California, still I did not 

 find it common there. Dr. T. C. Henry, United States army, assures me, however, that in the 

 environs of Fort Webster, New Mexico, now abandoned, large numbers of this species, may be 

 obtained in the course of a single day's hunt during the fall and winter months. Its flight 

 appears feeble, and when about alighting it expands its tail several times before becoming 

 quietly fixed on its perch. On dissecting the specimens which I procured in northern California, 

 the stomach was filled with a red berry, growing at that season on bushes which cover the 

 mountain sides in great profusion. 



PTILOGONYS NITENS, S w a i n s .—Black Crested Fly-catcher. 



Ptilogonys nitens, Svv. Cab. Cycle. Animals in Menageries, p. 285.— Cabsin's B. of Tex. nud Cal. p. ICi), pi. 29. 

 Ciclilopsis nitens, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 320. 



This bird is seldom found in the northern parts of California, although I obtained botli old 

 and young on the Cosumucs river in 1851. Since then a naturalist and friend of mine residing 



