In the Woods. 169 



This is a robust, strongly built bird, about seven inches and a half long. 

 It is conspicuous from its size and its habit of perching on some high dead 



Olive-sided ^^^^' °^ ^'"^^ projecting from the live branches below. 



Flycatcher. ^n such places, a miniature hawk in pose and appearance, 

 contopusborcaiis (Swains.), he watchcs for his passlog insect prey, which he seizes on 

 the wing, returning to the same post to resume his guard and consume his 

 captive. 



The upper parts are dusky olive. The throat and belly are white or 

 yellowish white, connected generally by a narrow stripe of the same color 

 down the centre of the breast and chest. From these regions the remainder 

 of the lower parts is about the same color as the back, except for a tuft of 

 white feathers on either side of and below the rump. 



The sexes are alike, and immature birds are similar to the adults, except 

 that they are more olive above, yellower beneath, and the feathers of the 

 shoulders are edged with buff. 



The birds nest usually in pine or kindred trees, building a structure of 

 moss, plant fibres, and twigs, near the end of a limb. Three to five eggs are 

 laid, creamy buff in color, spotted about the larger end with varying shades 

 of brown. They are rather more than four fifths of an inch long, and three 

 fifths of an inch in their smaller diameter. 



The birds are found throughout North America, during the warmer 

 parts of the year, as far north at least as British Columbia. They breed 

 from Massachusetts and Minnesota northward, and on the higher mountain 

 ranges south to North Carolina. They winter in Central and South America. 



A Flycatcher that breeds in holes in trees, that is alike conspicuous for 



his size, fine colors, and efforts at vocalism, is surely a bird to attract attention. 



Such a one is the Great-crested Flycatcher. He is nine 



Crested Flycatcher, inches long. The top of the head, back of the neck, and 



Myiarchus crinitus (Linn.). o i ' 



the back are sfi'eenish olive brown. The winors and tail are 

 darker. Some of the larger feathers of the wing are edged with cinnamon 

 and the inner webs of all but the two middle tail feathers are the same color, 

 but rather lighter. The throat, region in front of the eye, breast, and sides of 

 the neck are bright slate gray. The rest of the lower parts are clear sulphur 

 yellow. 



The sexes are alike and immature birds are similar, but generally more 

 olive. 



