^°^i^lO^"] ^^^^' breeding Birds of Central Illinois. 25 



May 9, 1899; May 11, 1900; May 13, 1901; May 11, 1902; May 14, 1903; 

 May 12, 1904; May 12, 1905; May 14, 1906; May 9, 1907; May 5, 1908; 

 May 10, 1909. Is most abundant in swampy timber bottoms. Earliest 

 nesting, two eggs, May 31, 1902; latest, two eggs, June 6, 1909. Probably 

 ninety per cent of our hummers are nesting by June 4. Many stay in the 

 fall until caught by the frosts. I have found tliem hanging quite dead in 

 the vines after a sharp October night frost. Wisdom is shown in the spring 

 by tlieir late arrival, whicli fact con\'inces me that the late sojourners are 

 young of the year. 



30. Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. — Common summer resident. 

 Arrives April 24 to 30. In one year (1903) Ivingbirds did not arrive until 

 May 12. The Kingbird is present in every orchard but I have yet to see 

 two pairs making their homes in the same orchard. Earliest nesting, 



4 eggs. May 25, 1896; latest, 4 young, July 4, 1907. I have seen the King- 

 bird victor in every battle except one. In tliis dispute "Tyrannus" beat 

 a hasty retreat from the onslaughts of an angry Yellow Warbler. 



31. ]yi3?iarchus crinitus. Crested Flycatcher. — Common summer 

 resident. An inhabitant of the woods and orchards near timber. The 

 past four seasons a pair have made their home in the village. Arrives 

 from the south April 26 to May 8. The typical nest contains a snake-skin. 

 I have found but one nest without it. Earliest nesting, 4 eggs, May 25, 

 1899; latest, 4 eggs, June 18, 1901. Six eggs are most commonly deposited. 



32. Sayornis phoebe. Phcebe. — Common summer resident, arriving 

 March 19 to April 10. Earliest nesting, 5 eggs. May 18, 1899; latest, 



5 eggs, June 6, 1909. Each iron bridge over our streams shelters a pair of 

 Phoebes each summer. 



33. M3aochanes virens. Wood Pewee. — Common summer resident. 

 Arrives April 2 to 22. Have found three riests of this woods loving fly- 

 catcher in the village. Of ten nests noted, each contained three eggs. 

 Earliest nesting, 3 eggs, June 3, 1905; latest, 3 eggs, July 21, 1898. 



34. Empidonaz virescens. Acadian Flycatcher. — Summer resident. 

 Inhabitant of the low damp woods only. Common only at Salt Fork 

 timber. Have never seen tliis bird at Lynn Grove. Earliest nesting, 3 

 eggs. May 30, 1902; latest, 3 eggs, June 13, 1909. Nests of this species 

 may always be recognized by the grasses hanging one to two feet below 

 the nest. 



35. Empidonax trailli trailli. Traill's Flycatcher. — Common sum- 

 mer resident. Abundant in our hedge-rows and country orchards. En- 

 tirely replaces alnorum in this locality. Contrary to its habits elsewhere, 

 trailli is never seen in the woodlands here but is strictly a prairie bird. 

 During eleven seasons of observing this bird, and examining two to twenty 

 nests a season, I have never found a nest in a large or even medium sized 

 tree. The smaller growths, averaging about fifteen feet high, are always 

 chosen. Arrives May 12 to 20. EarUest nesting, 3 eggs, June 12, 1899; 

 latest, 4 eggs, July 7, 1896. 



36. Otocoris alpestris praticola. Prairie Horned Lark. — Abundant 



