406 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Plirpnopi pin n iti iis 



Total len.v'th, 7.0U ; wing, 3.SU ; tuil, 4.35 ; len<,'th ol' bill from forehead, AG, from nostril 

 .31, along gape, .00 ; tarsus, .70; middle toe and elaw, .03. 



IIaij. Mountainous region of the 

 (' southern portions of Western and Mid- 

 dle Provinces of United States, and 

 south to Orizaba ; Cape St. Lucivs ; Pla- 

 teau of Mexico (resident, Slmichkast). 



Habits. S«» far as known, this 

 bird occurs in tlie mountainous 

 portions of the Tnited States, 

 from Fort Tejon, Cal., to Mexico, 

 and from the IJio (Irande to San 

 I)ie<;o. It is closely allied, in its 

 api)earance, as also in many of its 

 lial)its, both with tlie Waxwings 

 and the Flycatchers. 



This species was first detected 

 within the United States by C(donel McCall, who ol)tained it in California 

 in 1802. Its habits, as he obseryed tliem, partook of those of the true Fly- 

 catcher. They are said to be remarkable for their slender, actiye form, in 

 which their \o\v^ and ample tail, and the elono;ate(l feathers of their liead, 

 cajiable of bein.ij^ erected into a crest, are cons])icu(nis features. Colonel 

 Mc( 'all first met with them in a clump of trees on the borders of a mountain 

 brook, between Valliecita and El Chino. A numl)er of them were to- 

 gether actiyely engaged in the ])ursuit of insects. They were light and 

 graceful on the wing, though less swift and 

 decided in their motions than the true Fly- 

 catchers. In these eyolutions the bright white 

 spot on the wing, yisible only when tljp Aying 

 is spread, wiis quite cons[»icuous, and in fine 

 contrast with the glossy lilack of the general 

 plumage. In his journey Colonel McCall after- 

 wards met this bird seyeral times, either in 

 small companies or singly. They were always 

 either on mountain sides, or in the timbered 

 borilers of motmtain streams. 



Dr. Henry met witli this sj)ecies near the 

 Little Lagoon, on the Colorado Desert. It was 

 perched on a mezquite-tree, jerking its tail 

 almost incessantly, as do other kinds of Fly- 



catchers, and, from time to time, dashing in irregular curves high into the 

 air in pursuit of insects. It became ipiite abundant as he approached the 

 Colorado, occurring in companies of twenty and thirty. At Fort Yuma he 

 also met with them in considerable numbers late in November, as they \vere 



Fha'.noptf)la nitens. 



