364 HISTORY OF THE 



median lower parts white, or very pale yellowish (scarcely interrupted on the 

 breast); the lateral portions deep grayish brown, or brownish gray, in strong 

 contrast. (Ridgway.) 



Contopus borealis (SWAINS.). 



OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. 

 PLATE XXIII. 



Summer resident; rare; not common during migration. Ar- 

 rive the last of April to middle of May; begin laying the last 

 of May; return in September. 



B. 137. R. 318. C. 380. G. 155, 174. U. 459. 

 HABITAT. The whole of northern North America; south in 

 winter through the mountain regions to Costa Rica and Yeragua. 



SP. CHAB. "Wings long, much pointed; the second quill longest; the first 

 longer than the third. Tail deeply forked. Tarsi short. The upper parts ashy 

 brown, showing darker brown centers of the feathers (this is eminently the 

 case on the top of the head); the sides of the head and neck, of the breast and 

 body, resembling the back, but with the edges of the feathers tinged with gray, 

 leaving a darker central streak. The chin, throat, narrow line down the middle 

 of the breast and body, abdomen and lower tail coverts white, or sometimes 

 with a faint tinge of yellow. The lower tail coverts somewhat streaked with 

 brown in the center. On each side of the rump, generally concealed by the 

 wings, is an elongated bunch of white silky feathers. The wings and tail very 

 dark brown, the former with the edges of the secondaries and tertials edged with 

 dull white. The lower wing coverts and axillars grayish brown. The tips of 

 the primaries and tail feathers rather paler. The young of the year similar, but 

 the color duller; edges of wing feathers dull rusty instead of grayish white." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 7.50 18.20 4.30 3.00 .65 .60 



Female... 7.25 12.25 4.00 2.85 .65 .60 



Iris dark brown; bill black, with base of under mandible 

 brownish yellow; legs, feet and claws black. 



These birds appear to prefer for their homes the high lands 

 or mountain regions, among the evergreen trees; the cedar is a 

 favorite. I have not found them abundant or very common 

 anywhere. May 27th, 1883, I found a pair nesting near the 

 top of a large, solitary cottonwood tree, on the south fork of 

 the Solomon River, near Wallace, Kansas. 



They are rather bold, quarrelsome and tyrannical, zealously 

 guarding any chosen locality, where they will be found perched 

 upon the tops of the tallest trees, from which they swoop down 



