BIRDS OF KANSAS. 639 



have listened to this music without suspecting that the author was 

 the diminutive Kuby-crowned, with whose common-place utter- 

 ance, the slender, w r iry 'Tisp,' they were already familiar. . . .'' 

 Their nests are usually built in clustering twigs at the end of 

 a branch in evergreen trees, the spruce the favorite. The few 

 that have been found range from near the ground to sixty feet 

 in height. They are partially suspended to the upper branching 

 twigs, and securely supported by others from beneath; a semi- 

 pensile, roundish, bulky structure, composed of shreds of soft 

 bark, fine moss, lichens, cobwebs, etc., and thickly lined with 

 feathers, that are ingeniously woven into the structure, the up- 

 per feathers usually placed so as to curve towards the center 

 and nearly conceal the entrance. Eggs five to nine, . 55x.43; 

 dull white to pale buff, minutely but faintly spotted (chiefly about 

 the larger end) with light brown; sometimes they are nearly 

 plain; in form, oval to rounded oval. 



SUBFAMILY POLIOPTILIN^E. GNATCATCHERS. 



Wing not longer than the graduated tail; anterior tarsal envelope distinctly 

 scutellate; outer tail feathers with conspicuous white tips and edgings (some- 

 times almost entirely white). (Ridgway.) 



GENUS POLIOPTILA SCLATEK. 



"Bill slender, attenuated, but depressed at the base; nearly as long as the 

 head, distinctly notched at the tip, and provided with moderate rictal bristles. 

 Nostrils rather elongated, not concealed, but anterior to the frontal feathers. 

 Tarsi longer than middle toe, distinctly scutellate; the toes small; the hinder 

 ones scarcely longer than the lateral; its claws scarcely longer than the middle. 

 Outer lateral toe longer than the inner. First primary about one-third the 

 longest; second equal to seventh. Tail a little longer than wings, moderately 

 graduated; the feathers rounded. Nest felted and covered with moss or lichens. 

 Eggs greenish white, spotted with purplish brown." 



Polioptila caerulea (LINN.). 



BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. 

 PLATE XXXV. 



Summer resident; common in the eastern part of the State; 

 rare westward; in migration, common throughout the State. 

 Arrive in April; begin laying the first to middle of May; the 

 bulk leave in September; a few occasionally remain into Octo- 

 ber. 



B. 282. R. 27. C. 36. G. 13, 325. U. 751. 



