LEAST FLYCATCHER. 

 41 fi 



niti^oulai', Tvalls'lS tliiclc. Larynx provided with a thick and strong sterno-trafdiealis. Bvuncho-tvai.-hi'alis quite well de- 

 Teloped, also hronchialis anticus. 



CuLoii. Adult. Above, including ujjper tail coverts, olivaccous-green , darkest on the head, where tlie fcatliers show 

 dusky centers, and paler on the rum|i and upper tail coverts, with a ])lumbeous under tint on the nape. Wings and tail, 

 dark-brown, with the outer feathers of the latter lighter. Tijjs, edges of the terminal two tliirds of the secondaries, outer 

 edges of thctertiaries, tips of primaries and of two i-owsofwing coverts, f.jrming bars, pale yellowish-white. Beneath, white, 

 becoming yellowish on the abdomen and under tail coverts. Sides, flanks, and an indistinct band across breast, olivaceous. 

 Uniler wing coverts, yallowish-white. There is a broad white ring around the eye and the lores are white mixed witli 

 dusky. ]iill, brown, yellow at )>ase of lower mandilde. Feet, brown. 



Young of the year in autumn. Brownerabove than in the adult stage, the whitish wing l)ars are decidedly yellowish, 

 and the olivaceous markings below are inclined to be yellow also, while the band on the breast is better ilelined. The un- 

 der mandiiile is wholly yellow. 



Nestlinijs. Nearly slaty above, with a greenish overwashing. Beneath, white, with a faint tingeof yellowish, Tlic 

 liand on the breast is scarcely discernible and the otlier dark markings below arc not nearly as extended. Sexes, similar in 

 all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Spechiicns vary somewhat in slia !e of color above, some being quite dark while the .same birds will frequently be very 

 yellow Iiclow, with the band across the breast quite clearly deiined. In this stage of jilumagc, these birds so nearly resem- 

 ble Traill's Flycatcher that it is almost impossible to detect any difference in the dried skins although the same birds would 

 be easily recognized in the flesh. The precise differences between this species and other nunnbers of the genus are given 

 under observations in the suceoeiling pages. Distriljuted in summer throughout Eastern United States between latitudes 

 40^ and 47^. Winters in Central America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty s])eeimcns from New England. Length, 5 '50; stretch, 8' 10; wing, 2"4n; tail, 2'17; 

 liill, -CO; tarsus, 'SS. Longest specimen, 3-70; greatest extent of wing, 3'50; longest wing, 2"65; tail, 2'40; bill, •70; 

 tni-sus, ■12. Shortest speciiuen, 5'30; smallest extent of wing, 7'70; shortest wing, •2'25\ tail, 2'50; Ijill, '02; tarsus, -So. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND ECiGS. 



iVcs/.s-, placed in trees, eomposcil of dried grass, woody fibers, cotten, etc., all neatly woven ami held in place with cob- 

 webs. I,in?d with horse-hair and feathers. Dimensions, external diameter, 2'75, internal, r57. External depth, 2'00, 

 internal. 1 50. 



E(jijs, I'ciur in number, ratlier elliptical in form, yellowisli-white in color, usually unsputted. Dimensions from '(id x 

 •50 to ().'5x^o2. 



[lABITS. 

 Aiiout the first week in May the iibruptly given che-heck of the L'^ast Flycateher is to 

 be heard in the orchitrds and alung the hedge-rows of New Englaml, ami I will venture to 

 assort that there are none among our native birds whose advent is so noticeable. Not only 

 do tl'.cir energetic notes anncninee their presence, but the disturbance Avhich they always 

 create among the other members of the feathered tribe, renders them conspicuous; for the 

 Least I'^lycateliLM" are tlie most pugnacious species which visit us, not excepting even the 

 King Birds j^i'.ce most of the present fixmily, they migrate very rapidly and, as particu- 

 lar birds exhibit a predilection for certtiin spots to which they return season after season, 

 every orchard is soon tenanted by its elf. I say elf, for truly elvish are the tricks displayed 

 by the Least Flycatchers. Nothing in the form of a bird is allowed to remain within the 

 bounds of their jurisdiction; a group of brightly colored Warblers will come trooping through 

 the orchard in order to fceil upon the insects which infest the growing leaves, when sud- 

 denly, down swoops the liLtlc tyrant with loud cries and, rapidly snapping his bill, like an 

 epitomized fury he darts from leff to right among the astonished visitants who unable to 

 Willis; ;.uu this fierce assault, boat a hasty retreat and in a twinkling the Flycatcher is btick 



