GREAT CRESTFD FLYCATCHER. '^"^ 



that all the notes which they utter are given in abont the same tone, yet their cries are 

 loud, consisting of a series of somewhat shrill whistles often followed by a harsh chatter. 

 « There is considerable individual variation in the notes of these Inrds, yet there is a similar- 

 ity of intonation by which they can at once be recognized. Besides the regular lay, I 

 have heard them give a peculiar note which so nearly resembles tlie call of the Quail that 

 it is impossible to decide which of the species is producing the sound. The first place 

 that I ever heard this cry was in a thick hummock at Miami, when I was so completely de- 

 ceived that I advanced carefully through some yards of tangled thicket, expecting every 

 moment to start a Quail, and did not discover my mistake until I had approached so near 

 a Great Crested Flycatcher which was perched on a low bush, as to be enabled to perceive 

 the motion of its throat as it gave utterance to the imitative strain. The locality in 

 which I fovTud this particular bird was exceptional for these Flycatchers do not often occur 

 in the hummocks of Florida but prefer the more open country, being usually found in the 

 piny woods. These latter named sections are usually vast plains with slight depressions 

 which are filled witri water and grown up to cypress trees. These swamps, generally cir- 

 cular in form and which vary from fifty to several hundred yards in diameter, are the chos- 

 en resort of the Great Crested Flycatchers. Indeed, it is difficult to find a swamp which 

 is surrounded by pine woods, after the first of April that is not guarded by one or more of 

 these birds. I say guarded, for like nearly all members of this section they seem to con- 

 •sidcr the laud in their immediate vicinity as their special property and will instantly 

 eject any avian intruder which ventures upon their domains. 



The Great Crested Flycatchers spend the entire winter on the Keys but do not make 

 their appearance on the southern portions of the main-land of Florida until March. They 

 reach the vicinity of Jacksonville in early April, arrive in Pennsylvania about the first of 

 May, and I have taken them in Massachusetts during the second week of the month. In 

 Pennsylvania I found them frequenting old apple orchards and they build in holes after 

 the manner of the Blue Bird, depositing their eggs about the middle of June. It is a 

 well known f ict that the sloughs of snakes are very frequently found in their nests, they do 

 not always occur, yet their presence is so general as to leave no doubt but that it is a 

 decided habit of the Flycatchers to use them. Why these singular objects are employed 

 is of course a matter of pure conjecture, yet, as the skins are placed in a conspicuous posi- 

 tion and as the birds must take considerable pains to secure them, it is probable that they 

 are intended as something more than mere building material. Dried snakes' skins are hard- 

 ly attractive enough to be considered as ornamental, even to birds, so we are forced to the 

 conclusion that they must be I'Cgarded as useful by the Flycatcliers. It is noticeable that 

 many birds exhibit great fear of snakes, and Robins or other species may be kept from 

 eating berries ))y simply hanging the slough of a snake on the l)ushes. 



Therefore it is quite possilile that the Flycatchers taught by a long experience, use 

 the skins of these reptiles to frighten away such predatory species as Cuckoos and Crow 

 Blackbirds. The Great Crested Flycatchers become attached to certain localities and will 

 build their nests for several successive years in the same hole if not disturbed. Individu- 



'^>!ii 'i 'V 



