338 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Eiver. Dr. Kennerly procured specimens at Los Nogales, Mexico, and 

 others have met with it near the city of Mexico, at Saltillo, and in ditierent 

 parts of Western Texas. It was found breeding at Cape San Lucas by Mr. 

 Xantus. 



In the Department of Vera Cruz, Mr. Sumichrast found this species appar- 

 ently confined to the hot region. He did not meet with it anywhere else. 



Mr. Dresser thinks that this Flycatcher does not reach San Antonio be- 

 fore the latter part of April. The first that came under his notice was one 

 that he shot, on tlie 23d of that month, on the Medina Eiver. It breeds 

 near the Medina and the San Antonio Eivers, making its nest in a hollow tree, 

 or taking possession of a deserted Woodpecker's hole. Mr. Dresser observed 

 these birds as far to the east as the Guadaloupe Eiver, where they were com- 

 mon. Farther east he saw but very few. Their eggs he speaks of as pecu- 

 liarly marked with a multitude of purple and brown dashes and lines on a 

 dull yellowish-brown ground, and very similar to those of Myiarchus crinitus. 



In the Mexican Boundary Survey, individuals of this species were taken 

 by Mr. A. Schott, March 31, on the Colorado Bottom ; near the Gila Eiver, 

 Kew Mexico, December 31 ; and also at Eagle Pass, in Texas, date not given. 

 Mr. J. H. Clark obtained a specimen at Frontera, Texas, where he mentions 

 finding it in great abundance in damp places, or near the water. In May, 

 1853, Lieutenant Couch secured several near Saltillo, and notes its occur- 

 rence among mesquite-bushes. In the following June, Dr. Kennerly found 

 them very abundant at Los Nogales. Where two were found together, they 

 were generally noticed to be uttering a loud chattering noise. 



Dr. Heermann, in his Eeport on the birds observed in the survey of Lieu- 

 tenant Williamson's route between the 32d and the 35th parallels, mentions 

 finding this species abundant. His specimens were obtained near Posa 

 Creek. He describes them as of shy and retiring habits, preferring the deep 

 and shady forests where its insect food abounds. The nests, found in liollows 

 of trees or in a deserted squirrel's or Woodpecker's hole, were composed of 

 grasses and lined with feathers. The eggs, five in number, he describes as 

 cream-colored, marked and speckled with purplish-red dashes and faint 

 blotches of a neutral tint. 



Dr. Coues found them a common summer resident in Arizona, where they 

 arrived in the third week in April and remained until the middle of Septem- 

 ber. They were seldom found among pine-trees, but appeared to prefer 

 ravines, hillsides, and creek bottoms. Some wintered as high up in the Col- 

 orado Valley as Fort Mohave. At Fort Whipple young birds were first 

 observed early in July. 



Dr. Cooper obtained one of this species at Fort Mohave, January 15, and 

 is of the opinion that some may habitually winter in the Colorado Valley. 

 In California they begin to arrive about March 10, and extend their range 

 through very nearly the whole of the State. He describes their notes as 

 few, loud, and harsh, but little varied, and uttered from time to time as they 



