4 OS 



CONTOPUa BUREAUS. 



Tlic Gray Kin-- Birds a,|(pciir to prefer the outer, or higher, keys and visit them m 

 groat numlwrs, especially (hiring the spring migration. In order to give some idea of the 

 homes of these birds, I will describe Bamboo Key where I found them particularly common. 

 This little island which contains nearly two acres of land, lies about midway between Key 

 West and Cape Florida. It is one of a. line of outer IvCys which have an old coral reef for 

 a foundation and, as the present reef which extends parallel with the keys but which lies five 

 miles at sea, is (dearly visible, this is used a.3 a wrecking station and has a lookout erect- 

 ed upon it. There were two families living- there but, with the characteristic improv- 

 idence of the poorer class in Florida, they did not attempt to cultivate the soil, choosing 

 rather to depend n[iiui a. precarious livelihood gained by wrecking. Thus the vegetation 

 of the place was, in a great degree, in a primitive condition. Nearly the whole key was 

 surrounded by a belt of mangroves but these grew on very low ground over which the tide 

 rose every day; higher, on the dry land, were bushes among which two or three species of 

 cacti grew in pi'ofusion and, as the wdiole was overgrown by a ta.ngled mass of vines, it 

 formed an impenetrable thicket. The wreckers had formed a small clearing in the midst of 

 this jungle and erected two or three wretched houses. 



I landed on the first of May and remained there several days during which time I 

 saw hundreds of Gray Iving Bird3. They appeared to be migrating, for numbers were con- 

 "stantly arriving from sea,-ward, yet, unlike many other species, they invariably came in 

 pairs and were evidently mated as they were constantly pursuing each other through the 

 air in a playful manner, at the same time vociferating loudly. They exhibit a decided 

 preference for mangroves and later, by the middle of the month, build their nests in them, 

 usually selecting bushes wdiich overhang the water. These birds inhabit all of the higher 

 keys from Key West to Cape Florida. They also occur on the West Coast in suitable 

 localities but I do not think that they are as a,l)undant on the East side of the peninsula. 

 They must migrate early, as I never Ibund them in autumn. 



(iExVlS m. CONTOPIJS. THE PEWEES. 



Gen. Cii. Bill, shurtir iJuin the bend nthic/i is crested but loithnut the central coronet patch. Outer quitls, sltijli.t.ly in- 

 cited. Tail, sijuare and emarrjinatc. Upper outline of manubrium, viewed from the side, rounded (jradually downward. 

 J leijht of keel, a little less than one half tlic tenyth of the coracoids. Broncho-trachcalis, sliyhtly developed. Bronchialis, 

 quite large. 



The colors are dull, relicT-ed only by restricted white niarl<ings below. There is asilky patch of elongated, wliite featb 

 ers growing from the sides of the upper rump. The under mandible iif the adult is yellow, veined with red in life. 



CONTOPUS BOREALIS. 

 Olive-sided Flycatcher. 



Contopus Borralis I>aird, IJirds N. A.; 1858, 188. 



DESi'KIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust, fcjiiie, larg(\ yiernum, stout. Tongue, triangular in form, thin, horny, bifid, providca with 

 coai-sc cilia which extend along tlie sides. Stomach, somewhat muscular. Wings, long and jMiinted. Eeathcrs ofsemi- 

 <rest, rounded. 



Color. Adult. Above, inchiding wings, tail, and upper tail coverts, dark sooty-brown overwashed witli iilumbeous on 

 all portions excepting to]) of the head. Edges of secondaries, tertiaries, and tips (jf two rows of wing coverts, firming indis- 

 tinct bars, white. Beneath, including under tail coverts, yellowish-white. Narrow band across breast, sides, flanks, and 



