TV1{ANN1D.E — THE FLYCATC11EU8. 



o4o 



a half-cup. Tliev are lastcuod to a wall, or soinctimes ])laced on a shelf, 

 lu'ain, or h-dm' «if a rock, hut are alwuys under some protetting cover, often 

 under a liridifc Thrv are lined with tine i,Mass or moss, and liorse or eow 

 Iniir. The eggs, four or five in number, he ilescribes as pure white, measur- 

 ing .7-1 l>y .00 of an inch. 



This hird is said to prefer the vicinity of human lialtitations, mid als(» to 

 keep ahout water, on account of the numerous Hies they tind in such situa- 

 tions. It will often sit for hours at a time on the end of a l)arn, or some 

 other perch, uttering a numotoncms hut not unpleasant ditty, which resend)les, 

 according to Dr. Cooper, the sound of jnttir pitiit, alternately repeated, and 

 ({uite like the cry of the eastern Sa/foniis J)(srus, which is its exact counter- 

 })art in haliits. It is said to tly oidy a short distance at a time, turning and 

 dodging (piickly in pursuit of its prey, which it captures with a shar^) snap 

 of the hill. 



This species was met with by ^Ir. Ilidgway only in the vicinity of Sacra- 

 mento City, Cal., where it seemed to replace our eastern Pewee, having the 

 same familiarity and general habits, and with notes not distinguishable from 

 some beloni^iui; tt> X fasrus. 



The eggs of this species, as described by Dr. Cooper and by Dr. Heermann, 

 are either pure white unspotted, or else white with tine red dots, in this 

 respect res(»ml)ling the eggs of the *S*. fuscus, which present the same; varia- 

 tions. The measurements of those in my cabinet vary from .75 by .50 of an 

 inch to .7S by .(»(). 



Mr. Salvin says that Saf/oruis Hif/n'rtf/is is a resident s]>ecies at Duenas, in 

 Guatemala, where it may alwavs he found at a short distance from the vil- 

 lage, up the stream of the river (Juacatate. It also occurs alxMit the lake. 

 In its actions it is described as a lively and restless species, in this res[)ect 

 having but little resend)lance to the Tyrant Flycatchers. It may always be 

 found near water, genemlly sitting on a stone on the margin, from which it 

 constantly darts to seize a fly or an insect from the surface. His remarks 

 may, however, refer to the var. (KiuatieiLs. 



Sayornis fuscus, Batrd. 



PEWEE; PH(EBE-BIBD. 



Muscicapa fuscn, Gmki.ix, Svst. Nat. I, 17S8, H:n. — Laiiiam, Iiulfx, Om. II, 1700, 48:1. 



— ViKiLLoT, Ois. Am. Si[>t. 1, 1807, 08, \\. \\. - Uonap. Ol.s. ^Vilson, 182r>, no. 115. 



— In. Synopsis, 68. —All), drn. liioi,'. II, 18;U, Vl'l ; V, 18:5i>, 424, pi. cxx. — In. 

 Synopsis, 183!), 43. — In. liinls Am. I, 1840, 223, pi. Ixiii. — Oiraii*, IJinls L. 

 Islanil, 1844, 42. Tiinniniihi fn.^oi. Www. List, 1837. — Uonai'. List, 1838. Tjirnn- 

 nm fuscus, Ni'ttall, Man. I, (2il (m1..) 1840, 312. ' Auhmax fum-us, Caijams, Cab, 

 Journ. IV, 18.')<), 1. Musa'oi/Kt atni, Cmi.i.in, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, iU*;. — Nittai.i,, 

 Man. I, 1832, 278. Miisciaijhi ph>rh(\ Latham, Lulox Oni. H, 17!»0, 4^'.>. .Vuscirapa 

 tiuiu'iohi, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 181(i, 78, pi. xiii. M;/i<)(tius ituuciuhi, (Juay, (u-nenv, 



