FLYCATCHERS. 251 



catcher, is not identifiable. Muscicapa trailUi was described by Audubon from 

 Arkansas, and Mr. Brewster considers specimens from Arkansas and the Mis- 

 sissippi Valley south of latitude 42° as inseparable from those inhabiting the 

 region westward to the Pacific, to which he would therefore apply the name 

 Empidonax traiUii. In brief, the form previously known as E. pusiUus becomes 

 E. traillii^ and the Mississippi Valley birds south of latitude 42°, which formerly 

 were considered the same as those from the Atlantic States, are placed with the 

 western rather than the eastern bird. This course leaves the eastern bird with- 

 out a name, and Mr. Brewster proposes to call it Empidonax traillii alnorum ; 

 Alder Flycatcher. 



Western specimens average somewhat browner than eastern ones, arfd have 

 slightly larger bills, but, in my opinion, the differences are too slight to warrant 

 their continued separation, and I would apply the name traiUii to both. 



7 467. Empidonax minimus Balrd. Least Flycatcher ; Chebec. 

 Ad. — Upper piirts between olive-green and olive or olive-brown; wings and 

 tail fuscous ; greater and lesser wing-coverts tinged with ashy white ; under 

 parts whitish, washed with dusky grayish on the breast and sides and gen- 

 erally with a slight tinge of yellowisli on the belly ; lower mandible generally 

 horn-color. Im. — Under parts slightly more yellow. L., 5-41 ; W., 2-51 ; T., 

 2-21 ; B. from N., -31. 



Remarks. — This is the smallest of our Flycatchers. Its size, the compara- 

 tive absence of yellow on the under parts, and tlie generally horn-colored or 

 brown lower mandible are its chief distinguishing characters. 



Range. — Eastern United States; breeds from Pennsylvania to Quebec; 

 winters in Central America. 



Washington, common T. V., Apl. 25 to May 25 ; Aug. 28 to Sept. 25. Sing 

 Sing, tolerably common S. K., Apl. 25 to Aug. 2(J. Cambridge, abundant 

 S. R., May 1 to Aug. 25. 



Nest., of plant down, plant fibers, rootlets, fine strips of bark, and long 

 liairs, generally in a crotch five to fifteen feet up. Rggs., three to five, Avhite, 

 unmarked, -BS x 51. 



When music was distribiitod, I believe most of our Flycatchers had 

 back seats. It was an unfortunate circumstance, for their sedentary 

 habits and apparently thoughtful, serious, even poetic dispositions 

 make one believe that with proper training tliey might have taken 

 high rank as musicians. 



Instead of the simple melody we might expect to hear from the 

 modest Least Flycatcher, he salutes us with a singularly inappropriate, 

 business-like chebec, chehec, varying the performance by murderous 

 sallies after passing insects. In crescendo passages he literally rises to 

 the occasion, and on trembling wings sings an absurd " chehec, tooral- 

 ooral, chehec, tooral-ooral,^'' with an earnestness deserving better results. 



The Chebec, however, possesses originality; we can not confuse his 

 voice with that of any other bird, and young ornithologists should 

 give him a vote of thanks for his clear enunciation. 



He prefers fruit and shade trees to those of forest growth, and is 

 therefore an inhabitant of our lawns and orchards. 



