348 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



of Vera Cmz, but whether there as resident or as exclusively migratory he 

 was not able to state. It has also been found in winter throughout Mexico. 

 Mr. J. H. Clark met with it near Fort Webster, in New Mexico, and describes 

 it as particularly abundant about the copper mines. One of the shafts near 

 the fort, and which was partially filled up, served as a sinkhole for the offal 

 of the town, and around this quite a number of these birds could always be 

 seen in pursuit of flies and insects attracted to the place. Mr. Clark observed 

 that their sudden darting from their perch and their instantaneous return 

 were not always attended with the capture of an insect, but seemed at times 

 to be done only for amusement or exercise. Mr. Dresser first noticed these 

 birds in November, when walking in the gardens of the arsenal at San 

 Antonio. On his journey to Eagle Pass in December, he saw several daily, 

 generally in pairs. They would perch on a bush by the roadside, occasionally 

 darting off after some insect, and, as soon as he drew near, would fly off to a 

 convenient perch some distance ahead, thus keeping in advance for miles. 

 During the months of January and February they were not uncommon, 

 but after that he lost sight of them altogether. They seemed to prefer 

 the open country, as he generally found them on the prairies, and never 

 in the mesquite thickets. Their stomachs were found to contain small 

 insects. 



Dr. Woodhouse frequently met with these birds in Western Texas and in 

 New Mexico. They seemed more silent and more shy than the fuscus, but 

 otherwise similar in their habits. 



Dr. Kennerly met with this species at Bill Williams's Fork, New Mexico, 

 February 10, 1854. He states that he found them common in Texas, and as 

 far to the westward as the Great Colorado River. They built their nests 

 under the cliffs along the stream, and in notes and in every other respect 

 closely resembled the common Pewee. 



Dr. Heermann mentions finding this species abundant in Southern Cali- 

 fornia. It was more especially plentiful in the fall, at the time of its migra- 

 tion southward. He also found it in New Mexico, in the northern part of 

 Texas, near El Paso, and in Sacramento Valley, though somewhat rare. In 

 migrating, it prefers the deep valleys bordered by high hills, but also occurs 

 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 to the same 

 point. 



In Arizona, Dr. Coues found this Flycatcher common throughout the Ter- 

 ritory. At Fort Whipple it was a summer resident. It was one of the first 

 of the migratory birds to make its appearance in spring, arriving early in 

 March, and remained among the last, staying until October. It winters 

 in the Colorado Valley and the southern portions of the Territory generally. 

 He found it frequenting almost exclusively open plains, in stunted chaj)arral 

 and sage brush. In some other points of habits it is said to differ remark- 

 ably from our other Flycatchers. It does not habitually frequent canons, 



