40 TYRANNID/E : FLYCATCHERS. 



even than that of the Indigo Bird, though perhaps 

 smaller in the average" (Bull. Nutt. Club, i, 1876, p. 75). 

 But with whatever variation in degree of compactness 

 and in materials, the structure is still always a deep cup 

 placed in an upright fork, thus essentially like that of 

 iniiiiimis, and quite different from that either of aca- 

 diciis or of a Wood Pewee. The eggs, however, resem- 

 ble those of the Pewee, and especially of the Acadian 

 Flycatcher, in being creamy white and in being boldly 

 spotted. The markings are of different shades of brown, 

 chiefly at or about the larger end of the eggs. The eggs 

 are three or four in number, measuring about 0.64X0.55. 

 The tendency in New England seems to be for the bird 

 to build quite low down in bushes, rather than in 

 trees, and in watery situations, such as alder thick- 

 ets or their vicinity. Mr. C. S. Paine, who seems 

 to have found many nests in Vermont, speaks of 

 them as placed in low alder bushes, three or four feet 

 from the ground, near running streams. According to 

 Mr. Brewster's observations in New Hampshire and 

 Maine, the bird's "favorite haunts were the dense alder 

 thickets along the rivers and small streams, over those 

 dark retreats, perched on some tall dead branch, full in 

 the rays of the noonday sun. The male sang vigorously, 

 occasionally darting out after some insect, and returning 

 to the same perch. His song consisted of a single dis- 

 syllabic refrain, /-/-w/;/^, uttered in a harsh, peevish tone, 

 at an interval of about thirty seconds, varied occasionally 

 to kc'-zuink or ke'-ivincli. At each utterance his head is 

 thrown upwards with a sudden jerk. They were retiring, 

 but not shy ; were easily approached, and were apparently 

 not so restless as most Flycatchers " (Hist. N. A. Birds, 

 ii, 1874, p. 371). 



