200 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



sort of localities seem to be affected by this bird during migration as 

 in the nesting season, and this is perhaps one of the best clues to its 

 identity, as none of its three close relatives are likely to occur in alder 

 swamps. Until comparatively recently, the Alder Flycatcher was not 

 known to nest in the State, though Mr. Rhoads found them at Lake 

 Hopatcong^ late in May, and was suspicious of their status in that 

 locality. Later, in 1899 to 1902, Mr. W. D. W. Miller^ found them 

 breeding regularly in the vicinity of Plainfield. Mr. Rhoads also saw 

 them at Alpine in June, 1901,'' Greenwood and Wawayanda Lakes, 

 June 4th-8th, 1909, and has noted them as rare transients at Haddon- 

 field. Mr. W. E. D. Scott regarded the species as a regular transient 

 at Princeton in the seventies.* 



467 Empidonax minimus Baird. 



Least Flycatcher. 



Adults. — Length, 5-.5.50. Wing, 2.25-2.50. Above, brownish-olive ; two 

 dull white wing bars and tertials edged with the same ; under parts, white ; 

 very pale yellow posteriorly ; breast shaded with olive-gray. 



Young in first summer. — Browner above, and wing bands darker. 



Aest in the upright fork of a branch constructed of vegetable fibers, fine 

 bark, etc. ; eggs, three to five, white, .05 x .50. 



Common transient visitant in southern New Jersey; summer resi- 

 dent in the northern counties, south to Plainfield (Miller) and 

 Princeton (Babsou), and rarely near Haddonfield, where they were 

 found by Mr. S. N. Rhoads in June and July, 1881.^ Arrives April 

 28th (May 2d), departs September loth. 



This is one of the four little green Flycatchers whose identification 

 is always a matter of difficulty to the beginner. It is commonly found 

 in the trees about the house and orchard. Its habits are like those of 

 the other Flycatchers, its note a sharp emphatic "chebec," though it 

 occasionally indulges in a sort of flight song of rather more elaborate 

 character. Mr. S. N. Rhoads on one or two occasions has found the 

 Least Flycatcher in summer near Haddonfield, which is its most 

 southern breeding locality. From Trenton and the Raritan north- 

 wards it is a reg-ular summer resident. 



1 Birds of E. Pa. and N. J., p. 101. 

 = Auk, 1901, p. 108 ; 1903, p. 68. 

 ^ Cassinia, 1901, p. 50. 

 * Babson, Birds of Princeton, p. 57. 

 ^ Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 1882, p. 55. 



