324 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



of the year, and it was especially seen about houses. For about a week, at 

 the end of April, 1857, they were extremely numerous. On their return from 

 their summer quarters, they were first observed September 6. Mr. Taylor 

 also mentions them as common in Trinidad. Mr. Eidgway found it a com- 

 mon species among the willow thickets of the river valleys, west as far as 

 the Great Salt Lake. 



This species, in its spring and autumnal migrations, is abundant in Louisi- 

 ana and Texas, as well as in tlie Gulf States. Wilson speaks of meeting 

 with it in the then "Mississippi Territory." Audubon gives it as abundant 

 in Louisiana, and Nuttall as found throughout Louisiana and Arkansas into 

 Mexico. Mr. Dresser also mentions it as very connnon near San Antonio in 

 the spring and autumn, arriving on the Medina the 27th of April. 



Dr. Coues says that the Eedstart near Washington is chiefly a spring and 

 autumnal visitant, and but very few remain to breed. In the spring it is 

 very abundant from April 25 to May 20, and in the fall from the 1st to the 

 20th of September, in all woody and swampy situations. He found it in 

 the habit of running along slender twigs, sideways, and having a note very 

 similar to that of I), astiva. 



Although placed among the Oscinrs, where, as an excellent singer, it clearly 

 has a good right to be classed, it is yet also a true Flycatcher in habits and 

 manners. It is a lively, active bird, ever on the wing, and continually in 

 pursuit of insects. In this pursuit it never awaits the approach of its prey, 

 but, espying them at a distance, darts with great velocity in pursuit, and the 

 continued clicks of its bill attest the rapidity and frequency with which it 

 will overtake and catch insect after insect. Even when lamenting the loss 

 of a part of its brood, and flying around with cries of distress, the sight of 

 passing insects is a temptation not to be resisted, and the parent bird Avill 

 stop her lamentations to catch small flies. 



Its notes are a varied twitter, rather than a song, a repetition of two simple 

 notes, uttered every few seconds as it seeks its prey, flying among the thick 

 foliage usually in dense groves. Its connnon habit is to glide along a branch, 

 between its smaller twigs, at times darting forth into more open spaces in 

 quest of insects it has espied. 



Their nests are usually, though not always, built in a low branch, eight or 

 ten feet from the ground, in the midst of a thick grove. I have known it 

 to build in an open field and in close proximity to a dwelling. It keeps to 

 groves and thickets, and frec[uents moist places rather than dry, evidently 

 because of the greater abundance of insects, and not because of timid or 

 retiring habits. It is indeed far from being timid, and will permit a near 

 approach without any exhibitions of uneasiness. AVhen its nest is visited, 

 the male bird manifests great disturbance, and flies back and forth around the 

 head of the intruder with cries of distress. The female is far less demon- 

 strative, and even when her nest is despoiled before her eyes is quite moder- 

 ate in the expression of her grief. 



