44 TYRANNIDvE : FLYCATCHERS. 



material, strengthened with a few straws and woody 

 fibres, with a lining of feathers, constitute the whole 

 substance of the nest." And again, as to the increasing 

 sociability of the birds themselves : " They are much 

 addicted to particular localities, and return to the same 

 spot year after year, if undisturbed. A pair that had 

 established their hunting-grounds in an open area north 

 of a dwelling in Roxbury returned to the same spot for 

 several successive years, and would come regularly to 

 the piazza of the house, where bits of cotton were ex- 

 posed for the benefit of such of the whole feathered tribe 

 as chose to avail themselves of it. Each year they drew 

 nearer and nearer to the house, until at last the nest 

 was made in a clump of honeysuckles on a corner of the 

 piazza, whence they would sally forth in quest of insects, 

 entirely unmindful of the presence of the family." (Hist. 

 N. A. Birds., ii, 1874, p. 373.) 



YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. 

 EMPIDONAX FLAVIVENTRIS Bd. 



Chars. Above olive-green, clear, continuous and uniform, as in 

 acadicus ; below decidedly yellow, bright and pure on the 

 belly, shaded with olive on the breast and sides. Eye-ring, 

 wing-markings, and under mandible yellow ; feet black. Size 

 vitrailli or rather less ; feet proportioned as in acadicus; bill 

 shaped nearly as in minimus, but rather larger ; first quill usually 

 equal to sixth. 



The Yellow-bellied is not so well-known in New Eng- 

 land as either of the two foregoing, though the character 

 implied in the name is very distinctive on comparison of 



