FLYCATCHERS 315 



and easier to get at, but inland they are generally fifty to sixty 

 feet from the ground. 



The nest is a beautiful compact structure of moss, lichens, 

 Usnea and Evernea, lined with fine black rootlets and general- 

 ly covered exteriorly with small lichens so that viewed from 

 below it resembles a knot on the limb. Generally three, but 

 occasionally four or only two eggs are laid. These are very 

 handsome being a cream color, handsomely spotted and blotched 

 with chestnut, umber, purple, and lavender, generally being 

 wreathed about the larger end and rarely indeed about the 

 smaller end. 



The eggs measure about 0.85x 0.63 (Bendire). Though I 

 have found many nests of this species I have not as yet dis- 

 covered one which seemed accessible without considerable 

 danger. The nest is usually readily discovered by going out 

 in late June and locating one of the birds by hearing its 

 whistling shrill call. It is only a matter of time before both 

 birds will be on the scene and by careful watching the female 

 will be seen to fly quite often and hover for a slight space of 

 time over a spot in the vicinity of which careful search will 

 reveal the nest. Indeed many times the female will actually 

 light on the nest for the barest instant and again leave it. 

 At such times her cry sounds much like "spill, spill, spill." 



The food consists of the various insects frequenting such 

 localities as the birds do. 



Genus CONTOPUS Cabanis. 



461. Contopus vir ens (hinn.^. Wood Pewee; Dead-Limb 



Bird; "Pisser." 



Plumage of adults : above olive brown with sometimes a slight olive green 

 cast ; wings fuscous with two more or less distinct white bars ; tail fuscous ; 

 below whitish or yellowish white, with olive gray tinge on sides of throat 

 and breast ; upper mandible black, lower one light with slightly darker tip. 

 Immature plumage : wing coverts edged with buff ; yellower below ; other- 

 wise similar. Wing 3.20 ; culmen 0.50 ; tarsus 0.50, 



