402 MYIARCIIUS CRINITUS. 



Upper outline of manubrium, viewXMl from tlio side, straii^ht for one tliinl the length then angled oliliijuely 

 downward. Marginal indentations, narrow and shallow. Broncho-traehealis anticus and posticus present, 

 also traces of bronchialis anticus. 



The colors above are dull, but there is more or less yellow below. I have placeil this genus nearest 

 t.he Order Oscines partly on account of the similarity of the sternal characters but more particularly on 

 account of the development of the laryngal muscles which exceed those of any species in this order that 

 have come under my notice. 



MYIARCHUS CRIMITUS. 

 Great Crested Flycatcher. 



Myiarchus crinitus Cabaxis, Jour, fur Ornith. Ill; ISS.-., -170. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



Si'. Ch. Form, rather robust. Size, large. Sternum, as gi\'en above. Feathers of the crest, long but 

 rounded at the tip. 



Color. Adult. Above, olivaceous-green with feathers on the top of the head showing the darker 

 centers. Upper tail coverts and tail, dull-cinnamon, tinged with greenish, with the inner webs of the feathers 

 of the latter, except a narrow margin next the shaft, bright-cinnamon. Wings, includmg coverts, dark- 

 brown, with tips of the latter, forming bars, and the edges of the scapularies and secondaries, pale-yellow, 

 while the outer edge of the basal portions of the primaries are bright-cinnamon, and the inner webs of all 

 the longer featheas are edged with pale cinnamon, the throat and upper breast, dark-ash. Remainder 

 upper parts, including under w'ing and tail coverts, lemon-yellow. Bill, brjwn. F'eet. black. 



Young. Differ from the adult in having the bars on the wings less clearly defined, in being darker 

 above, and in having greenish on the anterior portions of the sides. The cinnamon is also darker. 



Young of the year. Color above, inclined to be reddish, the bars on the wings are clearly defined, but 

 the whitish is replaced by pale-cinnamon and the edges show very little yellow. The outer webs of the 

 tail feathers are lighter cinnamon, the throat is lighter, and the yellow of the breast encroaches u]iou dusky. 



Nestlings. The top of the head is overwaslied with ]>ale-cinnamon. Heneath. very pale with the yellow 

 cncroaching upon the breast considerably. Sexes, similar in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Occasionally there will be indications of narrow cinnamon edgings to the feathers of the crest, this be- 

 ing especially observable in Florida specimens. Birds from the latter named section are also darker than the 

 more northern, skins otherwise they are quite similar in coloration, but the bill is almost always longer and 

 the curved point of the upper mandible is more elongated ; they do not difi'er in size, however. Distributed 

 in summer through Eastern North America, from Middle Maine to Southern Florida, wintering on the 

 Keys and in the West Indies. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of thirteen specimens. Length S'S.->; stretch, lo'W: wing, 4i."i; tail, O"."). bill, 

 .80, tarsus, '81, Longest specimen, y'20; greatest extent of wing. 1.j-i!0; longest wing, -t'tl."); tail, 4-0(); bill, 

 .1)2; tarsus, -90. Shortest .specimen, S-.W; smallest extent of whig. l.'J DO; shortest wing, 4110; tail, '^-M; 

 bill. '71 1; tarsus. '77. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS .V.\l> I'KiOS. 



Nests placed in holes of trees, composed of grass and fine weeds with tlie nrcasinual c'lst-nff .-^kiii ui' a 

 snake. Dimensions, external diameter, 4-00: internal, 2-.')(). E.Nterual depth, iM.iO, interaal. I'fid. 



Eggs, four or five in number, rather elliptical in form, bufl" in color, streaked and lined with brown 

 and lilac. The markings are usually placed longitudinally and give the eggs a peculiar appearence rendering 

 them at once distinguishable. Dimensions from 'SOx (i.j to 'H.-jxTO. 



HABITS. 



There are few liinls, even among tlie must meloilinns of the Osciiie.s. that render 

 them,«elve8 more conspieuoushv their voices than the Great Cresteil Flyeatehers. It is true 



