324 LAND BIRDS 
chasing a crow, or perched on a dead twig all fluffed 
out for a sun-bath, shows the same characteristic traits 
that amuse us in his relatives, and we welcome the sight 
as of an old friend. His food consists of large insects 
and caterpillars, with possibly a peck at the farmer’s 
fruit. His call is the shrill note of his family, somewhat 
modulated. 
454. ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER.— Myarchus 
Cinerascens. 
Famity: The Flycatchers. 
Length: 8.00-8.50. 
Adults: Throat and chest light gray, merging to white on the throat ; 
belly sulphur-yellow ; upper parts grayish brown ; two white wing- 
bars ; tertials edged with white ; outer tail-feathers with outer webs 
distinctly white. 
Young: Similar to adults, but tail-feathers rufous. 
Geographical Distribution: Western United States from Northern Oregon 
south to Mexico, east to Colorado, south in winter to Guatemala. 
California Breeding Range: Below Transition zone, nearly throughout 
the State. 
Breeding Season: May 5to June 24. 
Nest: In knot-holes of trees or giant cactuses or in woodpeckers’ holes, 
and sometimes behind pieces of bark ; lined with hair, snake skin, 
grass, and rootlets. . 
Eggs: 3to 6 ; buffy, covered with longitudinal scrawls of purple. Size 
0.88 x 0.65. 
QuiITE different from the noisy kingbirds are these 
demure, dignified Flycatchers. Even in Southern Cali- 
fornia they are only summer residents, going south to 
Guatemala in the winter. They nest indiscriminately in 
the dense thickets of the river bottoms or in the oak 
groves of the foot-hills, in the cafions or on the desert 
plains, where the cactus and the mesquite are the only 
