TYRANNID^E — THE FLYCATCHERS. 367 



resident breeding in Jefferson County, in that State. This is its most east- 

 ern known occurrence. In the Smithsonian Museum are skins from Fort 

 Steilacoom, Fort Tejon, and Mexico. This species is probably identical with 

 the Little Tyrant Flycatcher, described by Swainson in the Fauna Boreali 

 as both from Mexico and from the Arctic regions. Dr. Eichardson was not 

 able to supply anything in regard to its habits. They were first seen by 

 him at the Carlton House on the 19th of May. For a few days they were 

 found flitting about among low bushes on the banks of the river, after which 

 they retired to moist shady woods lying farther north. 



Mr. Itidgway mentions the E. jJusUhis as the most common of the Empi- 

 donaces in the Great Basin, as well as in California and the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. It is chiefly, if not entirely, confined to the willows along streams, 

 but it is as common in the river valleys as in the mountain " parks." In all 

 respects it is a counterpart of the E. trailli ; its notes, as well as its manners, 

 being the same. In Parley's Park, in the AVahsatch Mountains, at an ele- 

 vation of over 7,000 feet, they were breeding abundantly ; about nightfall 

 they became particularly active, chasing each other, with a merry twitter, 

 through the willow thickets, or, as they perched upon a dry twig, uttered 

 frequently, with swelling throats and raised crest, their odd but agreeable 

 enunciation of 'pretty dear, as their notes were translated by the people of 

 the locality. 



In the Department of Vera Cruz, Mexico, Mr. Sumichrast gives this spe- 

 cies as a summer resident within the temperate region. He found it quite 

 common around Orizaba in the months of June and July. 



It was also met with on the Mexican Boundary Survey in summer, hav- 

 ing been taken in June at Los Nogales by Dr. Kennerly, and at Ptio Nasas, 

 in Duvango, by Lieutenant Couch, the same month. 



Dr. Coues mentions it as moderately plentiful as a summer resident in 

 Arizona. None of this genus were very common at Fort Whipple, but this 

 one was by far the most characteristic species. It arrives there about the 

 middle of April, and remains through September. 



Dr. Suckley found this species quite abundant in the vicinity of Fort 

 Steilacoom, where it arrives early in May. It seems to prefer the vicinity 

 of bushes and low trees at the edges of dense forests. This species, he adds, 

 is rather less pugnacious than others of the group, and in habits generally 

 more resembles the Vireo family. Its notes are said to be short but sweet, 

 and just after sundown on warm summer evenings particularly low, plain- 

 tive, and soothing. 



Dr. Cooper speaks of it as found by him frequenting the dark and gloomy 

 spruce forests, which it seems to prefer to more open places. He found it 

 most numerous near the coast, but also saw a few at Puget Sound, where 

 it arrived about the 25th of April. He speaks of its song as lively but 

 monotonous. He found it very difficult to get a sight of this bird among 

 the upper branches of the tall spruces, its color making it almost invisible in 



