340 SMALL GREEN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 



fluffy feathers on the flank." It is readily distinguishable 

 from all the smaller Flycatchers by its greater size. Both 

 in structure and position, its nest resembles that of the King- 

 bird, but its eggs, some . 85 X. 65, are merely an enlarged 

 pattern of those of the Wood Pewee. As its name indicates, 

 this bird is of northern habitat, breeding from New England 

 to high latitudes. Its notes and habits of diet are those of 

 the Flycatchers in general. The former are given by Nut- 

 tall as "ehphebee" or "Kphebw" in a whistling tone some- 

 what guttural at the commencement. To my ear, as I 

 listened to it recently in Nova Scotia, it sounded like,/#/, 

 pe-wee, the first syllable short and aspirated, the two follow- 

 ing drawn out in loud, clear, whistling tones. 



SMALL GREEN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 



In a shadowy part of the woods, where young hemlocks 

 are thickly interspersed, I hear sharp, quick notes, pee-whee, 

 quee-ree-ee, which I at once recognize as those of the Small 

 Green-crested Fly-catcher (Empidonax acadicus] , a very com- 

 mon summer resident of our upland woods. I look sharply 

 into the shadows for some time before I get sight of it. It 

 is perched on a dead limb, near the base of a small hemlock; 

 and always accompanies its note with a quick jerk of the 

 tail. Like the rest of the Flycatchers, it sits still on its 

 perch and waits for its prey; and when that prey appears, 

 be it beetle, fly, or moth, it darts quickly after it, cutting a 

 smooth curve, which is sure to intercept it, and seizing it 

 with a sharp click of the mandibles. With its quick, well- 

 directed movement, the broad gape of its deeply cleft 

 mouth and tangle of bristles on each side of it, there is but 

 a slim chance of escape for its victim. 



Some six inches in length, the crown feathers somewhat 

 long and erected; the whole upper parts fine olive-green; 



