34 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



The esfgfs of the Kingbird vary considerably in size. The 



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ground-color is white, with a somewhat roseate tinge, and 

 is beautifully spotted with brown and reddish-brown blotches 

 and markings, which are confluent about the larger extrem- 

 ity, in some specimens, and irregularly scattered over the 

 entire surface of the egg. in others. In length, they vary 

 from i .02 to .87 of an inch ; in breadth, from .7^ to .72 ot 

 an inch. . 



Myiarchus crinitus, Cabanis. 



The Great-crested Flycatcher is very abundant in the lat- 

 itude of Philadelphia, arriving from the South during the 

 early part of May. It has a more extended northern 

 distribution than earlier writers have been disposed to 

 grant. Wilson would confine it solely to Pennsylvania, 

 while Audubon would restrict it to the mountains of Wes- 

 tern Massachusetts. Nuttall considered it to be a rara avis 

 in New England and as never appearing near the coast. 



Recent discoveries have shown it to be quite a regular, 

 but a somewhat rare summer visitant as far to the north-east 

 as latitude 45 north, and longitude 67 east. It has been 

 found as far north as Randolph, Vt. and at Hamilton. Can- 

 ada, in latitude 44 north. Mr. Boardman has discovered 

 it breeding in small numbers near Calais, Maine ; and 

 Prof. Verrill has found it a rare visitor in the western part 

 of the State. According to Mr. Mcllwraith, it is quite a 

 common summer resident of Hamilton, Canada West, arri- 

 ving there about the roth of May. In Eastern Massachu- 

 setts, Dr. Brewer saj^s it is not common, and that scattered 

 pairs have been met with in Concord, Newton, Hingham. 

 and other localities. Dr. Cones gives it as a common sum- 

 mer resident in Washington, but affirms it to be more abun- 

 dant in the spring and autumn. It arrives about the third 

 week in April, and is chiefly a denizen along the margins 

 of open woods, its presence being betrayed by its peculiar 

 notes. In Western Massachusetts, it is a lare species accor- 



