THE LEAST FLYCATCHER. - 141 
.} 
gives it as breeding in that State; and T have no doubt it 
occasionally passes the summer in each of the New-England 
States. I had a nest and four eggs brought me in June, 
1864, found in Hastern Massachusetts, that were almost 
exactly like those of #. minimus ; but the bird brought 
with the nest was unquestionably of this species : whether 
or not the two belonged together I cannot say, but think 
that they probably did. The person who collected them 
informed me that the nest was found in an apple-tree in an 
old orchard: it was built in a small fork about twenty feet 
from the ground. The bird attacked the person who found 
it, courageously flying in his face, and snapping its bill 
with anger, and uttering a querulous twitter like that of the 
Phebe. The eggs were nearly hatched; and, as they were 
found on the 20th of June, they must have been laid by 
the 10th of that month. 
Two eggs in my cabinet, from near Quebec, Lower Can- 
ada, collected by William Couper, Esq., who informs me 
this species is occasionally met with there, are of a creamy- 
white color, like that of the eggs of E. minimus ; each egg 
having a very few pale reddish-brown dots. The form of 
the eggs is more elongated than that of the eggs of minimus, 
the dimensions being .77 by .53 inch, and .76 by .55 inch. 
EMPIDONAX MINIMUS. — Baird. 
The Least Flycatcher; Chebéc. : 
Tyrannula minima, William M. and S. F. Baird. Pr. A. N. Sc. I. (July, 1843) 
284. Ib., Sillim. Am. Jour. Sc. (July, 1844). And., Birds Amer. VII. (1844) 348, 
pl. 491. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Second quill longest, third and fourth but little shorter, fifth a little less, first 
intermediate between fifth and sixth; tail even; above olive-brown, darker on the 
head, becoming paler on the rump and upper tail coverts; the middle of the back 
most strongly olivaceous; the nape (in some individuals) and sides of the head 
tinged with ash; a ring round the eye, and some of the loral feathers white, the chin 
and throat white; the sides of the throat and across the breast dull-ash, the color on 
the latter sometimes nearly obsolete; sides of the breast similar to the back, but of a 
lighter tint; middle of the belly very pale yellowish-white, turning to pale sulphur- 
yellow on the sides of the belly, abdomen, and lower tail coverts; wings brown 
