BIRDS OF INDIANA. 8V 1 



RANGE. Eastern North America, from the Maritime Provinces and 

 New England westward, at least, to northern Michigan, etc., breeding 

 from the southern edge of the Canadian fauna northward; in winter 

 south to Central America (A. 0. U). 



Nest, preferably in alder swamps and thickets, usually in crotch in 

 bush, 1 to 6 feet up; of grasses, vegetable fibre and bark shreds, lined 

 with fine grass, fibre or hair. Eggs, 2-4; from creamy-white to pinkish- 

 buff, with spots and blotches of reddish-brown, usually thickest about 

 the larger ends; .73 by .53. 



It is doubtful whether it is proper to attempt to separate this from 

 the western form, E. traillii, in view of the fact that it is practically 

 impossible to distinguish the birds by the aid of a description. To 

 conform to existing conditions, however, I have included this form. 



Summer resident. Mr. Win. Brewster considers that specimens 

 from the Mississippi Valley, south of latitude 42, belong to the 

 western form of TrailFs Flycatcher. This extends its range farther 

 east than was heretofore supposed, and undoubtedly includes a part, 

 if not all, of Indiana. The eastern form has been given the name, 

 Empidonax traillii alnorum, and the fact that it ranges west to north- 

 ern Michigan, and has been taken in Ohio (Lynds Jones in The Auk), 

 makes it probable it is also found within this State. He has shown 

 it necessary to drop the name pusillus for that form because it can 

 not be identified. 



Audubon's Muscicopa traillii was described from an Arkansas speci- 

 men, which Mr. Brewster thinks is of the western form. The name 

 E. traillii will be used for that bird. 



*181. (467). Empidonax minimus BAIRD. 



Least Flycatcher. 



Adult. Above, olive-brown or olive-gray, slightly darker on head, 

 lighter on rump; wings and tail, brownish, the former with two 

 whitish cross-bars, and secondaries edged with same; ring around the 

 eye, white. Below, throat white, sides of throat sometimes extending 

 across breast, gray or olive-gray; other under parts, white, tinged 

 (sometimes very faintly) with sulphur-yellow. Immature. Wing bars, 

 ochraceous. 



Length, 4.90-5.50; wing, 2.20-3.60; tail, 2.10-2.40. 



RANGE. Eastern North America, from Panama to Nova Scotia, 

 Cape Breton, Great Slave Lake, and Mackenzie Eiver Valley (Ft. 

 Simpson), west to Rocky Mountains, casually to Utah. Breeds from 

 North Carolina, northern Indiana and Nebraska northward. Winters 

 south of United States. 



