-f 



FLYCATCHERS. 247 



more olive above, more yellow below, and with the wing-coverts edged with 

 ochraceous-butf. L., 7-39 ; W., 4-05 ; T., 2-70 : B. from £, -54. 



Remarhs. — This species may always be known from our other Flycatchers 

 by the comparatively little white on the under parts, and by the tuft of yel- 

 lowish-white feathers on the flanks. Like the Wood Fewee, it has the wing 

 •50 or more longer than the tail. 



Range. — Breeds from Massachusetts and Minnesota northward; winters 

 in Central and South America. 



Washington, casual T. V., one instance, Sept. Sing Sing, tolerably com- 

 mon T. v.. May 20; Aug. 15 to Sept. 16. Cambridge, T. V., May 20 to May 

 30 ; Aug. ; formerly not uncommon S. R. 



Aes^, of twigs and moss, in coniferous trees, about twenty-five feet up, near 

 the extremity of a limb. Eggs., three to five, vinaceous- white, spotted, chiefly 

 about the larger end, with distinct and obscure rufous markings, -85 x -62. 



I have seen the Olive-sided Flycatcher only during the migrations, 

 when I look for it on the topmost limb of some high, dead, woodland 

 tree — a commanding position from which it may view its surround- 

 ings. Even at a distance it impresses one as being a stout, stocky bird, 

 with a head too large for its body. 



During the sunimer they live among pines or cedars, and are de- 

 scribed by Colonel Goss as " bold, quarrelsome, and tyrannical, zeal- 

 ously guarding any chosen locality, where they will be found perched 

 upon the tops of the tallest trees, from which they swoop down upon 

 tlie passing insects, and often repeat their plaintive pu-pu or pu-jnp, 

 the males occasionally uttering a loud, whistling call-note." 



461. Contopus virens {Linn.). Wood Pewee. ^tZ.— Upper parts 

 very dark, betsveen olive and fuscous, with sometimes a tinge of dark olive- 

 green; wings and tail fuscous; wing-coverts tipped with whitish, forming 

 two more or less distinct wing-bars ; under parts white or yellowish white, 

 washed with olive-gray on the sides of the throat and breast, and, to a less 

 extent, on the center of breast ; upper mandible black; lower mandible yel- 

 lowish or brownish, the tip frequently darker. Im. — Similar, but yellower 

 below, the wing-coverts edged with cream-buff". L., 6-53 ; W., 3-34 ; T., 2-62 ; 

 B. from N., -42. 



Remarks.— ThQ Wood Pewee and the Olive-sided Flycatcher differ from 

 our other Flycatchers in having the wings decidedly longer than the tail, 

 and in their short tarsi. From the species of the genus Empidonax they may 

 be known by these characters and their darker, more fuscous coloration. 



Range. — Eastern North America; breeds from Florida to Newfoundhmd; 

 winters in Central America. 



Washington, common S. R., Apl. 28 to Oct. 15. Sing Sing, common S. R., 

 May 10 to Oct. 2. Cambridge, common S. R., ]May 18 to Sept. 10. 



Nest., compact and symmetrical, of fine grasses, rootlets, moss, etc., thickly 

 covered with lichens, saddled on a limb, twent\^ to forty feet up. Eggs., three 

 to four, white, with a wreath of distinct and obscure umber markings about 

 the larger end, "OS x -54. 



