BIRDS OF KANSAS. 361 



occasionally in a Martin house, or other dark recess. In the 

 month of June, 1887, a pair built a nest in one of the cannons, 

 on the State-House grounds, at Topeka; one egg was laid, but 

 unfortunately at that time the cannon was brought into use for 

 drill, and the nest destroyed. Eggs four to six, rarely over 

 four; vary in size. A set of four eggs, taken June 7th, 1879, 

 at Shelter Island, New York, from a hole in an apple tree, 

 measure: . 80x. 65, . 82x. 65, . 83x. 66, . 84x. 67 (Kidgway gives the 

 average to be .88x.66); -a beautiful egg; buff white, thickly 

 marked with wavy longitudinal lines, dots and splashes of lilac, 

 to dark reddish brown; in form, oval to ovate. 



GENUS SAYORNIS BONAPARTE. 



"Head with a blended depressed moderate crest. Tarsus decidedly longer 

 than middle toe, which is scarcely longer than the hind toe. Bill rather narrow; 

 width at base about half the cuhneu. Tail broad, long, slightly forked; equal 

 to the wings, which are moderately pointed, and reach to the middle of the tail. 

 First primary shorter than the sixth." 



Sayornis phoebe (LATH.). 



PHCEBE. 

 PLATE XXIII. 



Summer resident; common in the eastern portion of the State. 

 Arrive in March; begin laying by the middle of April; return in- 

 October. 



B. 135. E. 315. C. 379. G. 153, 172. U. 456. 

 HABITAT. Eastern North America; north to New Brunswick 

 and Manitoba; west to eastern Colorado and western Texas; 

 south through eastern Mexico to Cuba; winters from the Gulf 

 coast southward. 



SP. CHAR. "Sides of breast and upper parts dull olive brown, fading slightly 

 toward the tail. Top and sides of head dark brown. A few dull white feathers 

 on the eyelids. Lower parts dull yellowish white, mixed with brown on the 

 chin, and in some individuals across the breast. Quills brown, the outer prima- 

 ries, secondaries and tertials edged with dull white. In some individuals the 

 greater coverts faintly edged with dull white. Tail brown; outer edge of lat- 

 eral feather dull white; outer edge of the rest like the back. Tibia brown. Bill 

 and feet black. Bill slender, edges nearly straight. Tail rather broad and 

 slightly forked. Third quill longest; second and fourth nearly equal; the first 

 shorter than sixth." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 6.70 10.75 3.25 3.20 .66 .50 



Female... G.50 10.52 3.10 3.00 .66 .50 



