BLUE-GRAY (iNATCATCIIER. 071 



were fciii lies. I think tliit this imiy be acuouuted for In- the fact thit Key West is the 

 southern h'niit for this species, during winter, in the eastern section of the Union. The 

 adult males of Jill species of birds are apt to wander more than the vouiig niaics or the 

 females; therefore the more venturesome males crossed into Cuba k'nving their m:ites be- 

 hind, to await their return in the spring. Many Gnatcatchers, however, remain in the 

 more northern portions of Florida, but here we find that the m;ijorit\' ai-e adult mules as 

 they are hardier and better able to withstand the colder climivtes. In March thev p:ur 

 and move obout independent of their R-llow's. altliouLjh tliev someti-nes a.ssnciate witli the 

 warblers or titmice. 



In early winter I have never heard them utter aught more tlian tlie soft lispino:"see 

 see," and was not aware that they had any other song until February 4th, 1871. I was 

 walking in a narrow path through a hammock, which lies back of the old fort at Miami, 

 and had paused to observe a female of tliis species, when I heard alow warbliji"- which 

 sounded like the distant song of some l)ird tliat I had never heard before. I listened atten- 

 tively but could make nothing of it, and axhanced a few paces, when I Iieard it more plain- 

 ly. This time it appeared to come from above me ; looking ui)ward I saw a male Gnat- 

 <^atcher hopping nimbly from limb to limb on some small trees which skirted the woods. 

 Although he was but a short distance away, I was obliged to watch the motions of his 

 little throat before I became convinced that this music came from him. It was even so, 

 and nothing could be more appropriate to the delicate marking and size of the tiny fairy- 

 like bird than this silvery warble which filled the air \vith sweet, continuous melody. I was 

 completely surprised for I never imagined that an}' bird was capaljle of producing notes 

 so soft and low; yet each one given with such distinctness that the ear could catch every 

 part of the wondrous and complicated song. I watched him for some time but he never 

 ceased singing, save when he sjjrung into air to catch some insect. The female which 

 was near seemed to enjoy the musical eflforts that were executed for her benefit for she 

 drew gradually nearer, until she alighted on the same little tree with her mate. At this 

 moment .she rook aLvrm and fiew a short distance followed by the male. As I walked 

 away I could hear the nun-nuu' of the love song until it became indisthiguishable from the 

 uentle rustling of the leaves around. 



I have heard them sing but a few times siiiee the;i and only once as finely. This was 

 a year later ; we had pushed our boat far up the Wekiva Creek when a pair flew over, and 

 alighted on a tree near. The male commenced his lovely warble and continued it while 

 we were within hearing. The birds were not often seen in such a singular place, for we 

 we were in the midst of an immense cypress swamp which extended for miles around, and 

 we heard but few sounds save the hoarse bellowing of the alligators, or the harsh cry of 

 some lonely heron ; thus this tinkling melody sounded particularly sweet after listening to 

 such uncouth sounds in such a gloomy spot. 



Mr. Roland Thaxter found a nest containing half-grown 3'oinig, in May, at Ladies 

 Island, South Carolina. It was placed in the fork of a small water oak at some distance 

 from the ground. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher rarely occurs as far north as Massachusetts. 



