FLYCATCHERS 341 



The SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (443. Muscivora forficata) is found in 

 the summer as far north as southern Kansas and western Louisiana. It has 

 occurred accidentally near Hudson Bay, in Manitoba, Ontario, New Bruns- 

 wick, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, and Florida. It may be known by 

 its long, deeply forked tail and scarlet sides. 



452. Myiarchus crinitus (Linn.}. CRESTED FLYCATCHER. Ads. 

 Upperparts grayish brown, washed with olive-green; outer vane of primaries 

 margined with pale rufous ; inner vane of all but the middle tail-feathers pale 

 rufous; throat and breast pearl- 

 gray; belly sulphur-yellow. L., 

 9-01; W., 4-14; T., 3'75; B. from 

 N. '62. 



Range. E. N. and n. S. Am. 

 Breeds from upper edge of 

 Transition zone in s. Man., cen. 

 Ont., s. Que., and N. B., s. to s. 

 Tex., and s. Fla.; winters from 

 e. and s. Mex. to Colombia; 

 casual in Wyo. and Cuba. 



Washington, very common 

 S. R., Apl. 20-Sept. 29. Ossining, 

 common S. R., May 7-Sept. 12. 

 Cambridge, rare S. R., May 15- FIG. 95. Crested Flycatcher. (Natural size.) 

 Sept. 11. N. Ohio, common S. 



R., Apl. 25-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, not common S. R., May 1-Sept. 18. SE. 

 Minn., common S. R., Apl. 25. 



Nest, of grasses, twigs, and rootlets, with generally a piece of a cast snake 

 skin, in a hole in a tree, generally less than 20 feet up. Eggs, 3-6, creamy 

 white, streaked longitudinally with chocolate, *90 x '68. Date, San Mateo 

 Fla., May 10; Weaverville, N. C., May 20; Madison, Conn., June 2. 



During the spring migration each day brings its own surprise and 

 pleasure. The bare, silent woods where I walked alone before are 

 now astir with flitting wings and ringing with glad music. Each morn- 

 ing I hurry out, full of eager anticipation, to be thrilled by the greeting 

 of some old friend come home again. 



There are red-letter days, however, even in this calendar. Hark! from 

 the woods a loud whistle pierces far through the clearing. The Great- 

 crest has come! 



I break away from the confusing chorus of small voices and hurry off 

 to the woods for the first sight of the distinguished 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 domes- 

 tic matters that his voice is rarely heard outside the woods. Is he 

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

 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 basswood 

 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 



