n8 THE BIRDS ABOUT Us. 



ward. All the while, besides the snapping of the 

 beak with a little click, you can hear a faint peeping 

 sound, as if the bird was fretful, and at stated and not 

 long intervals the bisyllabic refrain that is much the 

 same in all the species. After listening to them for 

 many years, I believe that tshee-kee as nearly as may 

 be describes their notes, the greater stress being laid 

 on the first syllable. This bird is common in New 

 Jersey, in woodland tracts, and will come into villages 

 where there are abundant shade trees and in old 

 church-yards. 



In Central New Jersey they build in trees at a few 

 feet only from the ground, and secure the nest to 

 two or more limbs that are growing in the same 

 direction. Southward the bird is more abundant, 

 and its place in New England is taken by the Least 

 Flycatcher or " Chebec," a name derived from the 

 song or utterance of this species. This species breeds 

 abundantly in most parts of New England. Dr. 

 Coues says, " It is not ordinarily found in gloomy 

 woods like E. acadicus, nor even in heavy timber of 

 any kind." The bird's nesting habits are much the 

 same as those of the preceding. 



Another of these little fellows is Traill's, which is 

 a migrant, going into New England to breed, and of 

 course away beyond, northward. The bird has some 

 minor peculiarities that have to be closely studied 

 to distinguish it, when alive, from the others. Thus, 

 Mr. Maynard, a very close observer, calls attention 

 to the se-wtik of the least flycatcher being more 

 rapidly uttered and in a lower tone than the ke-whik 

 of the Traill's. 



