TYRANNID.E — THE FLYCATCHERS. 355 



the State, but not very common, and as undoubtedly breeding there. It was 

 never observed there before the 20th of May. It is said to be more abun- 

 dant at Lake Umbagog. 



In Western Massachusetts Mr. Allen regards this bird as a not very rare 

 summer visitant. It arrives about May 12, breeds in high open woods, and 

 is seldom seen at any distance from them. It leaves about the middle of 

 September. 



Mr. William Brewster, who resides in Cambridge, in the neigliborhood in 

 which this species was first observed by Mr. Nuttall, informs me that these 

 birds still continue to be found in that locality. He has himself met with 

 five or six of their nests, all of which were placed near the extremity of 

 some long horizontal branch, usually that of a pitch-pine, but on one occa- 

 sion in that of an apple-tree. The eggs were laid about the 15th of June, 

 in only one instance earlier. The females were very restless, and left their 

 nest long before he had reached it, and, sitting on some dead branch con- 

 tinually uttered, in a complaining tone, notes resembling the syllables ^jiY^- 

 'pill-'pill, occasionally varying to iriL-pu-pu. The males were fierce and quar- 

 relsome, and attacked indiscrimiuately everytliing that came near their 

 domain, sometimes seeming even to fall out with their mates, fighting sav- 

 agely with them for several seconds. When incubation was at all far 

 advanced, the birds evinced considerable courage, darting down to within a 

 few inches of his head, if he approached their nest, at the same time loudly 

 snapping their bills. 



A nest of this Flycatcher was found in Lynn, Mass., by Mr. George 0. 

 Welch, in June, 1858. It was built on the top of a dead cedar, and con- 

 tained three eggs. It was a flat, shallow structure, five inches in its external 

 diameter, and with a very imperfectly defined cavity. The greatest depth 

 was less than half an inch. It was coarsely and loosely built of strips of 

 the bark and fine twigs of the red cedar, roots, mosses, dry grasses, etc. 

 The nest was so shallow, that, in climbing to it, two of the eggs were rolled 

 out and broken. 



Mr. Charles S. Paine has found this bird breeding in Randolph, Vt. On 

 one occasion he found its nest on the top of a tall liemlock-tree, but was not 

 able to get to it. 



In Philadelphia, Mr. Trumbull found this species very rare. It passed 

 north early in May, and south in September. Near Hamilton, Canada, it is 

 very rare, none having been seen ; and two specimens obtained near Toronto 

 are all that Mr. McTlwraith is aware of having been taken in Canada West. 



Dr. Hoy informs me that this species used to be quite common near 

 Eacine, frequenting the edges of thick woods, where they nested. They have 

 now become quite scarce. Some years since, he found one of their nests, 

 just abandoned by the young birds, which their parents were engaged in 

 feeding. It was on the horizontal branch of a maple, and was composed 

 wholly of usnece. 



