FLYCATCHERS 253 



the giant cactus belt of southern Arizona, where it appears to be a 

 rather irregular summer resident, not uncommon in some seasons 

 and rare in others." 



Mr. Stephens found it frequenting low mesquites, and reports that 

 it was ' tame and rather noisy, having a variety of loud calls, some 

 . . . almost thrasher-like.' 



454. Myiarchus cinerascens (Lawr.). ASH-THROATED FLY- 

 CATCHER. 



Adults. Throat and chest pale ashy, sometimes almost white on 

 throat ; belly pale sulphur yellow ; upper parts grayish brown ; wings 

 with two white bars, quills edged with reddish brown, tertials edged with 

 white ; tail with middle feathers dusky brown, the rest chiefly brown on 

 inner webs ; outer tail feather with inner web dusky at lip, outer web dis- 

 tinctly whitish. Young : tail feathers rufous, with dark median stripe. 

 Length : 8.00-8.50, wing 3.80-4.25, tail 3.65-4.20, bill from nostril .52-.60, 

 tarsus .S8-.95. 



Distribution. Breeds in Upper and Lower Sonoran zones in the western 

 United States from northern Oregon to Mexico, and east to Colorado and 

 southwestern Texas ; migrates to Guatemala. 



Nest. Usually less than 20 feet from the ground in knot-holes of 

 mesquite, giant cactus, and trees, in cavities of stumps, woodpecker holes, 

 and occasionally behind pieces of bark ; lined with rootlets, grass, dry 

 horse manure, hair, fur, and occasionally snake skins. Eggs : 3 to 6, 

 creamy to pinkish buff, covered with longitudinal streaks and hair lines of 

 purple. 



Food. Mainly ants, grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, butterflies, flies, 

 moths, and occasionally berries, especially mistletoe. 



The noisy bickering bee-bird is quite put to shame by the digni- 

 fied demeanor of the ash-throated flycatcher, who with raised crest 

 and erect carriage goes about his business in a quiet, self-contained 

 manner. 



He is a common resident of the desert regions of southern Cali- 

 fornia, Nevada, Utah, and northern Arizona, and where the desert 

 mountains do not afford water he sometimes breeds as much as five 

 miles away from it, needing less water, perhaps, because his insect 

 food affords a good deal of liquid. 



454a. M. c. nuttingi (Bidgw.). NUTTING FLYCATCHER. 



Similar to M. cinerascens, but outer tail feather without either distinctly 

 white outer web or dusky tip to inner web ; tail never decidedly shorter 

 than wing ; upper tail coverts not distinctly rusty. Wing : 3.40-3.70, tail 

 3.35-3.80, bill from nostril .40-.56, tarsus .SO-.88. 



Distribution. From southern Arizona south to Costa Rica. 



Nest. As described by Dr. Fisher, 4 feet from the ground in an old 

 woodpecker hole in a giant cactus, containing 4 eggs, creamy, covered 

 with longitudinal purple streaks and hair lines. 



4 55 a. Myiarchus lawrencei olivascens Eidgw. OLIVACEOUS 



FLYCATCHER. 

 Adults. Head and back olive brown ; wing and tail feathers usually 



