114 



Bird-Land Echoes. 



of course launch out into the air after insects Hke 

 all their tribe." 



Rare flycatchers are sometimes seen, and I have 

 found the yellow-beUied twice, once breeding ; the 

 birds were identified by the late Mr. Cassin. I also 



shot a fine scissor-tail some 

 years ago. Such occur- 

 rences, however, are really 

 of little interest, except that 

 they sometimes show that 

 a given locality has a more 

 considerable avi-fauna than 

 the bird-men allow it, — a 

 condition probably true of 

 the whole country. 



All the above birds are 

 flycatchers by nature as 

 well as by name, and have 

 earned the title, but there 

 is not one of them that in a 

 given time catches as many 

 flies as some other birds 

 that can be named. Be- 

 cause of a pugnacious tendency that is always pretty 

 well marked they are also called ''tyrants," though it 

 is questionable if they are more deserving of the title 

 than certain other birds. However, this discussing 

 the ill tempers of birds is not pleasant. And now 

 what of more amiable catchers of flies, amateurs in 

 that line, if we insist that the tyrannical kingbird and 

 its cousins are professionals ? As regards their skill, 



Olive-sided Flycatcher. 



