<^38 xoirni amkuicax ijirks. 



I^iviT. T)r. KciiiumIv juncunMl specimens at Los Xo<,';iles, Mexico, and 

 otiiers liave met witii it near the eitv of Mexico, at Sultillo, and in dilterent 

 ]>aitH of Western Texad. It was found breeding at C'a[>e San Lucas by Air. 

 Xantiis. 



In tlie I)e|»artnient of Vera Cruz, Mr. Suniichrast found this species a]>par- 

 ently conlined to the hot rej^'ion He did not meet witli it anywhere else. 



Mr. I M'esser tliinks that tliis Klycatclier does not reach San Antonio be- 

 fore the latter i>art of Ai)ril. Tiie first that came under his notice was (»ne 

 that he sliot, on the '2'.'n\ of that montli, on the Medina liiver. It breeds 

 near the Metlina and the San Antonio llivers, makini,' its nest in a hollow tree, 

 or taking possession of a deserted Woodpecker's h(de. Mr. Dresser ob.served 

 these birds as far to the east as the (iuadal«)upe L'iver, where they were com- 

 mon. Farther east he saw but very lew. Their eL,%'s he speaks of as ])ecu- 

 liarly marked with a multitude of purjjle and brown dashes and lines on a 

 dull yeUowish-brown jjjround, and very similar to those of Mf/unrhus crinifus. 



In the Mexican Boundary Survey, individuals of this species were taken 

 by Mr. A. Schott, March M, on the Colorado I>ottom ; near the (lila liiver, 

 New Mexico, December 31 ; and also at Kagle Pass, in Texas, date not ^'iven. 

 Mr. J. H. Clark obtained a sj)ecimen at Fronteni, Texas, where he mentions 

 finding it in great abundance in damp places, or near the water. In May, 

 ISoo, Lieutenant Couch secured several near Saltillo, and notes its occur- 

 rence among mes4uite-l)ushes. In the following June, Dr. Kennerly found 

 them very abundant at Los Xogales. Where two were found together, they 

 were generally noticed to be uttering a loud chattering noise. 



Dr. Heermann, in his IJeport on the birds observed in the survey of Lieu- 

 tenant Williamson's route between the 32d and the 3r)th parallels, mentions 

 finding this si)ecies abundant. His sj^ecimens were oJjtained near Posa 

 Creek. He describes them as of shy and retiring habits, preferring the deep 

 and shadv forests where its insect food al)ounds. The nests, found in hollows 

 of trees or in a deserted sciuirrel's or Woodpecker's hole, were composed of 

 grasses and lined with feathers. The egg.s, five in number, he describes as 

 cream-colored, marked and speckled with puFplish-red dashes and faint 

 blotches of a neutral tint. 



Dr. Coues found them a common summer resident in Arizona, where they 

 arrived in the third week in April and remained until the nudtlle of Septem- 

 ber. They were seldom found among ]>ine-trees, but appeared to prefer 

 ravines, hillsides, and creek bottoms. Some wintered as high up in the Col- 

 orado Valley as Fort Mohave. At Fort Whipple young birds were first 

 observed early in July. 



Dr. Cooper obtained one of this species at Fort Mohave, January 1"), and 

 is of the ojiinion that some may habitually winter in the Colorado Valley. 

 In California they begin to arrive about March 10, and extend their range 

 through very nearly the whole of the State. He describes their notes as 

 few, loud, and harsh, but little varied, and uttered from time to time as they 



