NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 221 



461. Wood Pewee. Contopus virens. 



Range. North America, east of the Plains and north to the southern parts of 

 the British Provinces. Winters south of the United States. 



This is one of the best known and one of the most common 

 frequenters of open woods, where all summer long its pleasing 

 notes may be heard, resembling "pee-a-wee" or sometimes 

 only two syllables "pee- wee." They nest on horizontal limbs 

 at elevations of six feet or over, making handsome nests of ^^^^ 



plant fibres and fine grasses, covered on the exterior with rc 

 lichens; they are quite shallow and very much resemble a small 

 knot on the limb of the tree. They lay three or four eggs of a cream color spotted 

 in a wreath about the large end, with reddish brown and lavender; size .80 x .55. 

 Data. Torrington, Conn., June 16, 1890. Nest of fibres covered with lichens, 

 saddled on the branch of an oak tree near roadside. Collector, John Gath. 



462. Western Wood Pewee. Contopus richardsonii. 



Range. Western United States from the Plains to the Pacific, and from Mani- 

 toba southward, wintering south of the United States. 



The nesting habits of this bird are the same as those of the eastern Pewee, but 

 their nests are more strongly built and generally deeper, and without the outside 

 ornamentation of lichens. They are saddle upon horizontal branches, like 

 those of the preceding, as a rule, but are also ?aid to have been found in upright 

 crotches like those of the Least Flycatcher. Their three or four eggs cannot be 

 distinguished from those of the eastern W T ood Pewee. 



462a. Large-billed Wood Pewee. Contopus richardsonii tn'itinxulx. 



Range. This species which differs from the last only slightly, as is indicated 

 by the name, inhabits the peninsula of Lower California; its nesting habits and 

 eggs will not differ from those of the other Pewees. 



463. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Empidonax Harircnlri*. 



Range. North America, east of the Plains and north to Labrador; winters 

 south of the United States. 



This species is slightly larger than the Least Flycatcher and is 

 more yellowish above and below, the breast being quite bright. 

 \Vhile common in some districts it is quite shy and frequents 

 thickly wooded regions, where it is not very often seen. They 

 F nest near or on the ground among rocks or roots of fallen trees, 

 rr-* -H-t i chiefly in swampy places; the nests are made in bunches of moss, 

 J 



o 



hollowed out and lined with very fine grasses. Their four eggs 

 are creamy or buffy white, spotted and specked about the larger end with reddish 

 brown and gray; size .68 x .51. 



