DUSKY, GRAY; AND SLATE-COLORED 325 
ereen things. The call may be mistaken for that of the 
phainopepla, but never were birds more unlike in ap- 
pearance or habits. This species, more than any other 
of the flycatcher family, deserves the name of “ tyrant” 
which has been given to its Eastern relative. Not only 
will it drive all other birds, large or small, away from its 
nest tree but, it has the reputation of being a ‘ claim- 
jumper.” It has been caught nesting in newly formed 
cavities prepared by both the Texas and Gairdner wood- 
peckers, and in one case at least I know the woodpeckers 
were at work on the hole when driven away by usurpers. 
The battle raged vigorously at intervals for a whole day. 
No sooner had the Flycatchers settled the affair and 
begun to line the nest with rabbit fur, than the wood- 
peckers returned to the fray; during the temporary ab- 
sence of the bandits they scratched out every bit of the 
unwelcome material, and prepared to reoccupy their 
home themselves. But as always, the fiercer temper of 
the Flycatchers prevailed over the brave resistance of 
the woodpeckers, and after repeated defeats they sur- 
rendered. Afterwards under the tree was found one 
broken egg of the little woodpeckers, probably scratched 
out of the nest cavity in their energetic endeavors to get 
rid of the rabbit fur, and telling more pathetically than 
any words the story of their ruined hopes. 
This family of Ash-throats were wonderful uphol- 
sterers, for the cavity was thickly padded on sides and 
bottom with short hairs and rabbit fur, until there was 
little space left. In this were laid three small eggs, and 
on June 9 incubation began. During the fifteen days 
