EMPIDONAX FLA VIVENTRIS. 



42 •■ 



found that there was no trace of either division of the broneho-traehealis, as I consider 

 this an important muscle in producing a variety of melodious sounds. 



The Yellow-bellied Flycatchers spend the summer in the forests of tli(> more nortlurn 

 Now England States, frequenting the swamps which ai-e thickly covered with small larch 

 and hemlock trees. Here they are perfectly at home but are as retiring in habit as I 

 have described them during the spring migrations and, were it not for the peculiar ke-lick 

 which is occasionally heard, they would pass unnoticed. When I was at Lake Umbagog 

 in June, 1878, I was confident that several pairs which I observed, had nests in tlie im- 

 mediate vicinity but could not find them, and a few seasons later I searched in vain for the 

 eggs both at Grand Menan and further north in New Brunswick. As the nests hud lieen 

 described by authors as being placed in trees or bushes, my search was confined to the hem- 

 locks, larches, etc. and consequently was always unsuccessful. But my friends, Messrs. 

 Purdie and Deane, were more fortunate and during the past summer, 1878, succeeded in 

 procuring a nest which was placed under the shelter of the roots of an upturned tree, much 

 after the manner emplo^^ed by the Bridge Pewee. This was ol)tained at lloulton, Elaine, 

 and on June fifteenth, the nest contained one egg; three days later, the entire set of four 

 was deposited. Mr Purdie informs me that the structure was very pretty, especially when 

 he first saw it as then the bird was sitting upon the nest and she appeared to be suckon in 

 a ball of gi-een moss. The female was not at all shy for she was approached within two 

 feet before she darted olT. An excellent account of this episode is given by Mr. Purdie 

 in the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club for October, 1878, and is written with 

 the conscientious care so characteristic of the author. I found the Yellow-bellied Fly- 

 catchers as late as the first of June in the swamps of Pennsylvania and obtained birds in 

 the nestling plumage the last week in August, so judge that they may ))rood there, They 

 migrate early, leaving New England during the latter part of August, l)ut tliey linger in 

 Pennsylvania until the first of October when they shortly nfter disappear. 



