50 



AVIFAUNA COLUMBIANA. 



making the strange sounds is secreted. It is also wary and vigilant, 

 shifting its post on the least alarm, and adding to the perplexity of the 

 collector who would possess himself of the brilliant green and golden 

 trophy. Not less peculiar and exaggerated than its vocal efforts are 

 the aerial evolutions it performs during the mating season. When this 



Fig. 19.— Head of Yellow-breasted Chat, nat. size. 



is over its extravagant antics cease, and the Chat becomes a much more 

 orderly member of the feathered fraternity. We presume he would 

 never behave as he does if the females had no hand in the matter ; they 

 appear to be the cause of all the disturbance. The nest is placed 

 on a low bush, built chiefly of twigs and grasses; the eggs are 4 or 

 5, white, spotted, and blotched with reddish-brown. At the height of 

 the breeding season the chrome-yellow of the throat is sometimes in- 

 tensified in patches of red, a thing which also happens occasionally to 

 the Prothonotary Warbler. [144] 



57. (82.) Myiodioctes mitratus (Gm.) And. Hooded Flycatching Warbler. 



A rare spring and autumn migrant ; perhaps also a summer visitant. 

 It is, however, little more than a straggler, and one concerning which 



Fig. 20.— Head of Hooded Flycatching Warbler, nat. size. 



we have scarcely any information to offer. In the spring of 1882 one 

 was seen by Prof. Baird in the yard of his residence. [146] 



58. (83.) Myiodioctes pusillus (TTils.) Bp. Green Black-capped Flycatching 



Warbler. 



A spring and autumn migrant. "A few may breed" was said in 



Fig. 21.— Head of Green Black-capped Flycatching Warbler, nat. size. 



the original edition, but as yet we have no confirmation of this probably 



