KEYES AND WILLIAMS BIRDS OF IOWA. 1 35 



rocks, and similar sites. The eggs of this species are usually recorded as 

 pure white and unmarked. From the personal examination of nearly two 

 hundred nests, it would seem that at least one-fourth of the eggs were 

 marked with reddish-brown spots. The occurrence of spots upon eggs 

 normally without markings is not unfrequently noticed among the eggs 

 of the common barn-yard fowl ; and it is also recorded of the robin 

 and other suedes. 



Genus CONTOPUS Cabanis. 



[B 137, R 3iS, C 380, U 459-J 

 Contopus boreal is (Swains.). Olive-sided Flycatcher. Rare; ob- 

 served only in the spring. 



[B 139, R 320, C 382, U 461.I 

 Contopus virens (Linn.). Wood Pewee. Summer resident; com- 

 mon from the ioth of May until September. Its note may be heard at 

 almost any time after its arrival, in the woodland along the streams. 



Genus EMPIDONAX Cabanis. 



[B 144, R 322, C 388, U 463.] 

 Empidonax flaviventris Baird. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Migra- 

 tory; not common. Appears the first week in May. 



[B 143, R 324, C 384, l t 465.] 

 Empidonax acadicus (Gmel.). Acadian Flycatcher. Summer res- 

 dent; not common. Several nests have been taken near Des Moines 

 during the past few years. One found May 26, 1881, was composed 

 of dry grasses, catkins, and spider-webs, and was pendant. It was at- 

 tached to the forks of a small horizontal branch, about seven feet from 



the ground. 



[B 140, R 325 a, C 385, U 466 a.] 



Empidonax pu stilus traillii (Aud.). Traill's Flycatcher. Migra- 

 tory; common. Appears the second week in May, frequenting the 

 willows along the streams. Breeds in the northern portions of the State. 

 [B 142, R 326, C 387, U 467.] 



Empidonax minimus Baird. Least Flycatcher. Migratory; com- 

 mon. Arrives the first week in May. Breeds "in large numbers in 

 Mahaska County." {Tripp.} 



Suborder OSCINES. Song Birds. 



Family ALAUDID.dE. Larks. 



Genus OTOCORIS Bonaparte. 



[B 302, R 300, C 82, U 474.] 



Otocoris alpestris (Linn.). Horned Lark. Winter visitant; not 



uncommon in eastern Iowa. 



