AMPELTD.E — THE CHATTERERS. 407 



mi^^mting southward. Dr. Henry (lescriUes its note as a low, plaintive 

 whistle. He ascertained that it breeds in California by findin*^ specimens 

 of young birds. He likewise met with this S2)eeies near Fort Webster, in 

 Xew Mexico ; and Dr. Kennerlv also noticed it, in February and March, 

 between I*ig Sandy Creek and the Colorado Kiver. 



Mr. Dresser obtained two specimens of this species at Eagle Pass. One 

 of these luul its stomach tilled with the berries of a species ol" mistletoe that 

 grows alnindantly on the mezquite-trees. He noticed that it carries its crest 

 erect and much recurved, after the manner of the European Ponm n-isfofus. 



Sumicln'ast states that this species, called Ilrifctlto, is well distiibuted 

 throughout the Plateau of Mexico, but onlv ranges in the vallev of the Ori- 

 zaba, to the height of about 1,5U0 metres, nirely coming as far as that. It 

 is also common at Tehauntepec and otlier places. 



I )r. Cooper found them quite numerous, in winter, near the ( 'olorado. He 

 also found them common, in December, about the ]\Iohave IJiver, and in sum- 

 mer, from Los Angeles to San Diego. They were fcumd to prefer the trees 

 in which the mistletoe grows, on the berries of which they largely feed, 

 though they occasionally pursue insects, iu a zigzag ccjurse similar to that 

 of the Scfi/01'iii.'i niffruam^. 



They almost constantly utter a loud cry of alarm, and when jnirsued are 

 very wild. When wounded, they conceal themselves so closely in the thick 

 tufts of the mistletoe as to be found with ditticulty. Many left the Colorado 

 Valley in April, but a few remained. Their notes Dr. Cooper describes as 

 similar to tliose of the Crested Flycatchers, but sweeter. 



It was found by Feilner, at Fort Crook, in April, I8(i(), but has not been 

 met with near the coast so far to the north. 



A nest of this bird, obtained by Dr. Co(»[)eir, on the 27th of April, was built 

 on a horizoiftal branch of the mez(j[uite {Abjorohiu), twelve feet from the 

 ground. It was found near Fort Mohave, on the Colorado Eiver. The nest 

 is a very flat structure, four inches in diameter, and less than two in height. 

 The cavity is less than an inch in depth. The nest is made almost entirely 

 of hempen or flax-like fibres of plants, interwoven with fine grasses, stems 

 of plants, and stalks of a larger size. It is lined with a soft downy sub- 

 stance of a vegetable character. 



The eggs, two in number, are of an oblong-oval shape, nearly equal at 

 either end, and with a ground-color of a light slate, tinged with a yellowish- 

 green. Tliey are marked and blotched eipudly over the entire Q)1,)I,, with spots 

 and blotches of various lines, from a light, faint, obscure purple to deej^er tints 

 of purj dish-brown, even to black. It is a very marked egg, and unique in 

 its appearance. They measure .90 by .GO of an inch. 



Dr. Coues found this species a summer resident in Arizona, somewhat 

 rare about Fort Whip])le, but found very aluuidantly a little iarther south, 

 and a permanent resident in the southern portions of that Territory. It 

 inhabits rather open country in preference to densely wooded regions. He 



