46 TYRANNID^ : FLYCATCHERS. 



migration the birds may be dispersed in high or mixed 

 woods, their preference for swamps becomes evident 

 when we know their breeding habits, which may now 

 engage our particular attention. 



It has proved no easy task to disentangle the history 

 of this species from that of its two nearest relatives, con- 

 sidering the conflicting or erroneous accounts which have 

 crept into the books, resulting from wrong identification 

 of nests or other mistakes. Thanks to several active 

 and successful New England observers, the doubt has 

 been dispelled, and the nest and eggs of flaviventris 

 should be as recognizable as those of any other species. 

 One of the most satisfactory accounts, which may be 

 transcribed in part, is that given by Mr. Purdie in the 

 Nuttall Bulletin for October, 1878, p. 166. Remarking that 

 Dr. Brewer, and, following him, Dr. Coues, had described 

 the eggs as white, unmarked, he notes his experiences 

 with the bird at Houlton, Me. " Mr. Bradbury informed 

 us that he had found, on June 15, a nest unknown to 

 him, with one egg. On the i8th he conducted us to the 

 edge of a wooded swamp, and pointing to the roots of 

 an upturned tree, said the nest was there. We ap- 

 proached cautiously and soon saw the structure, and 

 then the sitting bird, which appeared to be sunken in a 

 ball of green moss. Our eager eyes were within two 

 feet of her, thus easily identifying the species, when she 

 darted off ; but, to make doubly sure, Mr. Deane shot 

 her. There was no mistake ; we at last had a genuine 

 nest and eggs of the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. A large 

 dwelling it was for so small and trim a bird. Built in 

 and on to the black mud clinging to the roots, but two 

 feet from the ground, the bulk of the nest was composed 

 of dry moss, while the outside was faced with beautiful 



