1891] MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 135 



fact when these notes were heard for the first time. The sounds 

 consist mainly of two notes, a small third apart, uttered slowly. 

 The Jay possesses, likewise, courage and boldness, in which 

 qualities it is hardly exceeded by any of our other birds. The 

 writer has observed on one occasion a Jay to attack a bird which 

 appeared to be a Red-shouldered Hawk, and which it succeeded, 

 by persistent onsets, in driving away. 



Tymnnus tyrannus (Linn.). Kingbird. 



This bird makes its appearance about the twentieth of April. 

 It is one of our most abundant birds during the whole summer, 

 but leaves us again rather early in September. The bird may 

 be found everywhere except in heavy woods j it particularly 

 loves pastures and fields covered here and there with some tall 

 weeds and plants, upon which to rest. It is also found near the 

 farm house, along the roadside, often sitting on telegraph wires 

 in company with others of its own kind. The bird is very bold 

 and aggressive, attacking other birds much larger than itself, 

 thus giving force to both its common and Latin names, as also 

 to its former specific name, "intrepidity." 



From its habit of catching bees, it is called " Bee Martin," 

 which, in fact, is the only name given to it by our farmers. From 

 this propensity to catch bees, this bird is very much disliked by 

 country people. 



The nest is rather bulky, not very neat, made of rootlets, as 

 also of parts of grape vine bark, and it is lined with grass. The 

 eggs are whitish, with spots of chestnut and lilac gray. 



The bird has no particular utterance or notes, save a sort of 

 twitter. 



Myiarchus erinitus (Linn.). Crested Flycatcher. 



Late in April this bird, the largest of our flycatchers, makes 

 its appearance, and it departs again about the 20th of September. 

 It frequents mostly shady woods, and is hardly ever seen near 

 houses and on the farms. Its note is nothing but a squeak, very 

 different from the utterances of our other flycatchers, being low, 

 and frequently heard when the bird is perched at the top ot 



