296 



OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION. 



The dimensions of five nests are as follows : 



GENUS EMPIDONAX CABANIS. 



91. Empidonax flaviventris BAIRD. 

 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. 



A rare spring and fall transient visitor. It has been observed only in May and 

 September, in thickets and the undergrowth of woodland. 



The stomach of a specimen taken September 18, 1892, contained the remains of 

 two or three striped squash-beetles \Dlabrotica vittata] and a dung-beetle (Atcenius 

 stercorator}. 



92. Empidonax virescens (VIEILL.). 

 Green-crested Flycatcher. 



A summer resident; common for a while in the spring, but during the breeding 

 season less numerous, and inhabiting then only certain localities. The earliest date 

 of its spring arrival is April 30 (1891), but it has in other years not been noted before 

 the middle of May. It departs usually not later than the first of September. 



93. Empidonax traillii CAUD.). 

 Traill's Flycatcher. 



A tolerably common summer resident, but of very local distribution. It appears 

 in spring during the first half of May, the earliest record being May i, and remains 

 until September. 



It has been found nesting in only one locality, a mill-race in the valley of the 

 Applecreek, a short distance southeast of Wooster. This mill-race is thickly fringed 

 with a growth of elders (Sambuctis Canadensfs), and though situated between the 

 railroad track and cultivated fields, seems to have a special attraction for Traill's 

 Flycatcher, as several pairs breed here annually. Eggs have been obtained between 

 the dates of June 10 and July 14 inclusive; those on the latter date, however, belong- 

 ing probably to a pair from which eggs had previously been taken. None of the nests 

 found were higher from the ground than six feet, most of them less than four and 

 one-half feet ; all being built in elder bushes, and by no means difficult to discover. 

 Four eggs seem to constitute the ordinary complement, only one set (July 14, 1892) 

 consisting of a smaller number. A nest taken June 15, 1892, contained four eggs of 

 its owner with one of the Cowbird ; the Cowbird's egg having been deposited before 

 any of the others. 



