400 

 OLIVE-SIDLD FLYCATCHER. 



unilnr -win.i oovevbi, thieklj- streaked with olivaceous-'.laty. Upper mandi!>lc, <lnrl;-lir(]wn, under, ydluw. daiUpr nt ti|>. 

 l-Vrt, l.l;u:k. 



Y(ivn(j of the year in autumn. Similar to the adult hut more strongly tinged with yelluw hclow. the wing hars show 

 a tinging of rufous and the under mandible is dark-brown. 



NrsfUnys. Arc more olivaceous above. The white of the wings is replaced by rufous. Uniler portion-, imlincd to 

 buir. Bill, dark-brown, yellow at base of lower mandible. Sexes, similar in all stag(w. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is but little variation in plumage in specimens of the same age. Reatlily known from all allied sjiecios by the 

 large size and olivaceous markings below as well as by the greater proportionate h'ngth of wing. The deseriptiims i>f the 

 younger stages are from .specimens in the cabinet of Mr. Wm. Brewster. Distributed in sunuuer from Ma.ssachusctts, north- 

 ward. Winters south of the United States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of seven specimens from New England. Length, 7-ri2: stretch, 12-92: wing, 4-()0; tail, 2-R2; 

 bill, '00; tai-sus, '64. Longest sijccimen, 7-74; greatest extent of wing, 13-50; longest wing, 4"20; tail, 2'Oi); bill, -71; 

 tai-sus, ■08. Shortest specimen, 7'50; smallest extent of wing, 12'45; shortest wing, 3'8(); tail, 2'74; )]ill, 'OS; tarsus, ■()(). 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees, composed of sticks and weeds, lined with fine roots. Dimensioas, external diameter, 400, inter- 

 nal, 2-00. External depth, 2-0(), internal, 1-00. 



E(jijs, three to four in number, oval in form, salmon colored, spotted and blotched with yellowish-brown, uiidier and 

 lilac. Dimensions from •75x '00 to 'SSx'OS. 



HABITS. 



The last Flycatcher described was a member of the a\a-fauna of the extreme southern 

 portion of the United States and now we will turn to one which inhabits the more north- 

 ern section of the Union. In many parts of Maine and New Hampshire, clearings arc 

 made in the primitive woods by cutting away the smaller growth of timber, but the larger 

 trees are merely girdled. A belt of bark of greater or less width is removed completely 

 around the trunk, after which the trees soon die but are left standing until they decay. 

 These gigantic spruces and hemlocks which have required centuries to come to maturity, 

 do not quickly succumb to the destroying elements but the bark soon falls away and the 

 exposed wood becomes whitened by the .sun and air. They will last for years and portions 

 of forests thus treated are called deadniugs, a suggestive name, for these leafless giants 

 stretching their withered and whitened limbs over the despoiled soil, strongly remind one 

 of tombstones in a cemetery. The Olive-.sided Flycatchers, however, do not appear to 

 regard them in such a melancholy light, but look upon them as convenient roosting places 

 and whenever one of these clearings occur on the side of a mountain or other rising ground, 

 the loud whistling notes of these birds may bo heard. If the deadnings be hirge, there 

 may be two pairs but usually there is only one, for, like the other members of this family, 

 the Olive-sided Flycatchers are very quarrelsome and will not permit any birds, mueli less 

 one of the same species, to settle very near them. 



The n()t(>s of these bir.ls are very loud, fully er[tiiilling those of the Great Crested Fly- 

 catchers, if not exceeding them. The ordinary call slightly resembles the [iliintive pe-wre 

 <ii" the Wood Pewee, but is so much harsher and is given with so much emphasis that the 

 similarity is scarcely perceived upon hearing the cry, but comes as an after-thought. Be- 

 sides this comparatively gentle strain, the Olive-sided Flycatchers utter some loud whistles 

 wi'.cn alarmed that may be heard at ;i great distance. 



lilUOS ol'' l'l.ul;ll)A. Sj;t 



