KINGBIRD. 259 



of the Bcissor-taileil Flycatcher (Jfilru/as forficntnH Str.) at York 

 Factory. 



"Hitherto its range has been considered to extend only from 

 Mexico to Centr-al Texas. Baii-d, Cassin and Lawrence say with 

 regard to it : ' This exquisitely beautiful and graceful bird is quite 

 abundant on the prairies of Southern Texas, and is everywhere 

 conspicuous among its kindi-ed sjiecies. It is usualty known as the 

 8cissor-tail from its habit of opening and closing the long tail 

 feathei'S as if they were the V)lades of a pair of scissors.' The specimen 

 in the Government Museum was shot at York Factory in the summer 

 of 1880, and I ha^•e since learned that these remarkable birds were 

 commonlv seen at the posts of the Hudson's Bay Company all the 

 wav westward to the valley of the Mackenzie River.'" 



The 8cissor-tails are beautiful birds which we should gladly 

 welcome to ( )nt:irio if thev find the attractions sufficient] to induce 

 them to extend theii' hal)itat in this direction, but of these they are 

 the best judges, and they will no doubt act accordingly. 



Genus TYRANNUS Cuvikk. 

 TYRANNU.K TYRANNUS (Lixx.). 



IS.-). Kingbird. (444) 



Twf) outtT ])riin;irie.s ()l)vi()usly attenuate : aliove, Idackish, dai-ker on tlie 

 head ; crown w itli a Hanie-colored patch : below, puie white ; the l)i'east 

 .shaded witli phiniheous : wings, dusky, with much whitish edging ; tail, 

 ])lack, bioadly and rathei- shaiply tipped with white, the outer featliers 

 sometimes edged with the same; bill and feet, black. Yotiiuj : — Without the 

 patch ; very j'oung l)irds show rufous edging of tlie wings and tail. Length, 

 about 8 inches ; wing, 4^ ; tail, 85 ; bill, undei' 1. 



Hab. — Kastei-n Xoi-th America, from the British Provinces south to Central 

 and South Ameiica. Rare west of the Rocky Mountains (Utah, Xevada. 

 Washington Territory, etc. ). 



Nest, large foi- tlie size of the biid, placed on the horizontal bough of an 

 isolated tree. com))osed of vegetable fibrous materials and sheep's wool 

 compactly woven together. 



Eggs, three to five, cieamy or rosy-white, spotted and blotched witli 

 reddisli. blown and lilac shell-spots. 



The Kiagbird arrives in Ontario from the south about the 10th 

 of May, and from that time till it leaves again in September, it is 

 one of the most familiar birds in the rural districts. It is generally 



