FLYCATGHIBa 245 



JVM, of grwMM, twig*, and rootlet*, with jrriierully pi roc of a cant xnake 



wkiii, in a hi.lr in 11 trvr. tf.-n.Tally le* tlnui twenty tWt up. /.;/;/<, tlir. , t.. 

 aix, creamy white, trvak-d /./// actually with rhiM-<>luic, -00 x -68. 



During the spring migration each day brings its own surprise and 

 pleasure. Tin- liarr, -ilont woods where I walked alone before arc 

 now astir with flitting wings and ringing with glad mu.-ic. Karh 

 morning I hurry out, full 

 of eager anticipation, to be 

 thrilled by the greeting of 

 some old friend come home H 



There are red-letter days, 

 however, even in this calen- 

 dar. Hark ! from the woods 

 a loud whistle pierces far 

 through the clearing. The 

 Great-crest has come! Fio. 75. -Crested Flycatcher. (Natural size.) 



I brjpak away from the 



confusing chorus of small voices and hurry off to the woods for the 

 first sight of the distinirui-hed bird. Full of life and vigor, he flies 

 about in the green tree tops, chattering to himself or calling loudly 

 as he goes. 



Not many days -pass, however, before he is so taken up with do- 

 mestic matters that his voice is rarely heard mit-ide the wn.>ds. Is he 

 engaged in his famous pursuit hunting snake skins to line his nest f 

 Absorbed in my daily round of nest calls, I cherish the memory of 

 each passing glimpse of him. Now I see him launch from a bass- 

 wood top, with wings and tail spread, to sail down through the air, 

 his tail glowing red against the light. Again, when looking for a rare 

 Warbler, his calls arrest me. In the dead top of the highest tree in 

 sight I find him with his mate. With crests raised, the handsome 

 birds chase each other about the bare branches. Tired of that, they 

 explore the old Woodpecker's holes in the trunk, and one of them 

 walks out of sight down a hollow limb. A Blackbird lights in the 

 tree, and the Great-crest above becomes so agitated that I am con- 

 vine -.-(I his mate has gone to her nest, when lo! both Flycatchers are 

 off and away to another of the great trees that overtop the forest 



FLORENCE A. MKKKIAM. 



456. Sayornla phrobe (Lath.). I'II.KBE. (See Fig. 4S.) ^.Up- 

 per parte jrrnvi*li l>mwn with an olive-jrrecn cant; crown .li>tin-tly darker, 

 S*vm ; wings and tail fuAcou*, wing-ban not coiwjncuoiw ; outer vane of 

 outer tail- feat h<-r white or yellowish white, except at the tip; under part* 

 white, more or leas washed with yellowish, and tinged with hrownUh gray 



