tvi:annii».k tiim ki.vcatciimks. ;n;] 



T.icMitiMiaiit Coucli ilcscriltcs tlic Scis'^or-tnil as shy, Imt <»f :i \vt\ livolv 

 di' positittis. rsiially lom- oy moh- arc ^ocii in loinpaiiy. ami s^m-im tn iircrrr 

 llu' tliiiilv woimIi'iI prairies t(» clnx' iliickrts. In l.rautv. Lieuiriiaiit rmicli 

 fniisiiliMs it tli(» (HUTU fil" ;ill tiir l>inls fnuinl ill NnrtlnMii Taiiiaiilipas. 

 TliJH sM|K'rl rity i^ imt nwin^' s(» umkIi tt» tlic l^rilliaiicy nf its pliim;i;j:(', tor 

 ill llial it is cNcfllrd l»y scvnal spi'cii's, l»ut to ilif iiiiiiiital»l(' ^^nirr, and 

 cliann of its lli^jit. K'isiiii,^ rnmi tlic tnpiiin>t luamli n\' sojih' acacia, it 

 seems to float, ratlicr than tolly; tl. •• 'csccndinjLi pcriM-ndiciilarly. it retakes 

 it^ ]tosition. nttcriim its usual note lie did not see it west ot" llie ( 'adereita. 

 ]h. Keiinerly. in liis nianli tVoni tlie (iiilt of Mexico into We^tein Texas, 

 ireqnentlv met with these Flycatchers ah)nu his naite. lie usnallv saw tlieni 

 in the open juairie, or anions the nies(|uite-hiishes. When perched, they 

 wen? Ljenerally on the top of a hiish or a tall weed, and their tails were con- 

 stantly in motion. When they darted oil" al't«'r some ]>assing insect, they 

 usually circ led around, disjdayiiii,' the singular hiturcatiou of their tail, hut 

 seldom ali''litin<j: a«Min on the same hush. It was occasionallv seen on the 

 open ]>rairie, tlyiui;- tor a lonj^ distaneo near the earth, as it' in search of 

 insects. 



In Vera Cruz this speeies is an inliahitaiit of the hot lands. A few in- 

 dividuals aseend, thou<ih very randy, to the height of the city of Ori/aha, or 

 alumt o,7nu feet. 



Mr. Xuttall states that he met with this Flyeateher rather common along 

 the banks (jf the IJed Iliver, near the confluence of the Kiamesha. He 

 ai,'ain na!t them, even more freiiuently, near the (Ireat Salt Kiver of Arkansas, 

 in August. They seemed to he i>reyin.L( upon ,i;rasshop])ers. 



])r. Woodhou.se not only found this speeies ahundant in Te.xas, in the 

 yicinity of San Antonio, hut in the Indian Territory also it was quite com- 

 mon, particularly near the Cross Timbers. He found them hreediiiLj in the 

 heuinnini' of the month of July, on the Great rniirie. Its nest was huilt 

 on the horizontal branch of a small scrub-oak, about six feet from the 

 jijround, and was comj)osed of coarse dry grass and sticks. It contained 

 four young birds nearly able to fly. On his a])proach the female Hew from 

 the nest to a bush near by. The male bird tlew to a great height aboye 

 him, circling round in the air, aj)parently watching his nioyements, and at 

 the same time uttering a coarse scolding chirp. 



Dr. (fideon Lincecum, of Texas, writes that the Scissor-tail Flycatchers 

 liaye greatly increased in numbers in that State since IS-tS. They are 

 seyere hunters of insects, and make great hayoc among honey-boe.s. They 

 are exclusiyely prairie birds. He adds that thev con.struct their nests far out 

 on the tojj branches of the liye-oak or any other lone tree on the ])rairies. 

 They seem to be a yery jdayful bird, and delight in shooting ra])idly up- 

 wards, cutting the air with their strong wings with such force that the sound 

 may be heard to the distance of three hundred vards or more. Their notes 

 are harsh and inharmonious. They leave Texas late in autumn, and return 



vol.. II. 40 - - 



