NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 239 



The eggs, Mr. Sennett says, have a general resemblance to those 

 of all our Tyrant Flycatchers, but are quite distinct in form, size and 

 ground-color from any he had seen. The blotches are more numerous 

 and smaller ; the large end is very round, and the small end quite 

 pointed; the ground-color is rich buff; the blotches are similar to those 

 of the Kingbird's eggs, but more irregularly distributed over the entire 

 egg; sizes i.oox.76, . 99x^6, .98x.76, .qjx.jz. 



447. Tyrannus verticalis SAY [306.] 



Arkansas Kingbird. 



Hab. Western North America from the Plains to the Pacific, south through Western Mexico to 

 Guatemala. Accidental in Eastern States Maine, New York, New Jersey and Maryland. 



The Western Kingbird possesses the same general traits which are 

 common to the Kingbird of the Eastern States. Col.Goss mentions it as 

 a common summer resident in middle and Western Kansas, arriving 

 about the first of May; begins laying in the latter part of the month. 

 Mr. A. M. Shields states that in the region about Los Angeles, California, 

 this species is found nesting from about the first of May until late in 

 July, building in any convenient place ; in the frame-work of a windmill, 

 the cornice of a house, on fence posts, in the forks of trees at heights 

 ranging from five to fifty feet.* The nest is built of any available 

 material, rags, grass and twigs, lined with wool or cotton. 



The eggs are five, sometimes lour, in number. A large series be- 

 fore me do not differ essentially from those of T. tyrannus, except that 

 they average smaller ; .94 x .65. 



448. Tyrannus vociferans SWAINS [307.] 



Cassin's Kingbird. 



Hab. Guatemala north through Mexico and Western United States to Idaho and Southern Wyoming, 

 and coast district of Southern California. 



Cassin's Kingbird greatly resembles T. verticalis in color ; is less 

 lively, and not so quarrelsome or pugnacious in its nature. It is a 

 common bird in Southern California, but is nowhere so abundant as the 

 Arkansas Flycatcher. In the Rocky Mountain region, according to 

 Dr. Coues, it mostly replaces verticalis in the breeding season. A com- 

 mon bird in Arizona. Mr. W. E. D. Scott states that the position of 



* Mr. Walter E. Bryant, in his papers entitled " Unusual Nesting Sites," mentions some curious 

 freaks concerning the nesting of the Arkansas Kingbird : An old and much flattened nest of Bullock's Oriole 

 was found relined, and containing four Kingbird's eggs. A nest was found by Mr. A. M. Ingersoll built 

 upon a fence-post more than half a mile from the nearest tree. It was secured from observation on one side 

 by a board nailed to the post and projecting above it. 



One of the most remarkable instances of persistency in nest building was met with in the case of a 

 pair of Kingbirds, which had attempted to construct a nest upon the outer end of a windmill fan. A hori- 

 zontal blade had probably been first selected, but an occasional breath of air had slightly turned the mill, 

 bringing into place another and another, upon each of which had been deposited the first material for a nest 

 until several nests were in different stages of construction, varying from the time that the windmill had re- 

 mained quiet, while upon the roof below was strewn a quantity of debris that had fallen as the wheel 

 revolved. Of course, nothing but failure could be expected from their repeated attempts. 



