360 ANIMAL LIFE IX THE YO SEMITE 



flew several times in pendulum-like course over the jay 's head, but without 

 seeming to bother the latter in the least. 



If a person happens near a nest of this species during the breeding 

 season he at once becomes the center of a noisy demonstration. Both 

 parent birds, and sometimes other pairs, hover over him, with feet drawn 

 up against the body, tail spread, and wings beating, often poising for 

 several seconds in one position. All the while they pour forth a deafening 

 torrent of protests. At such times the bird's red crown-patch which, under 

 ordinary circumstances, is wholly concealed, is flashed vividly into view. 

 Occasionally, however, one comes upon a kingbird that is quiet. At El 

 Portal one was seen to sit on a telegraph wire for more than ten minutes 

 without once moving or uttering & note. 



The nesting season of the Western Kingbird is chiefly in May, soon 

 after the birds have arrived from the south. An empty nest seen at 

 Bagby, May 27, was placed 12 feet above the ground near the top of a 

 small blue oak on the edge of a low bluff along the railroad track. Another 

 nest, seen near Snelling, was 20 feet above the ground, also in a blue oak. 

 The nests are constructed compactly of grasses and weed-stems and measure 

 5 to 6 inches across the outside and 2 to 3 inches in depth. 



Ash-throated Flycatcher 

 Myiarchus cinerascens cinerascens (Lawrence) 



Field cliaracters. — Bulk about twice that of Junco; length 8i/^ inches; relatively 

 slender in outline, tail as long as body, head with a blunt crest. No sharply contrasted 

 markings ; whole coloration pale-toned ; breast light gray, belly white tinged with 

 yellow; head and back grayish brown; wings and tail showing reddish brown areas 

 nhen expanded; closed wing crossed by two dull whitish bars. Perches low in open 

 situations, turning head from side to side, and making frequent changes of position. 

 Voice: A throaty, staccato one- or two-syllabled call, descending in pitch, ker, Icer-cherr' , 

 or Jcut-truh', with audible rolling of r's; also a 'song,' a loud rolling tuclc' a roo, 

 repeated many times at irregular intervals of a second or more. 



Occurrence. — Summer visitant west of Sierras; common throughout Lower and 

 Upper Sonoran zones to as far east as El Portal; once observed by us in Yosemite 

 Valley, on north side near foot of trail to Yosemite Falls, June 7, 1915; noted also 

 in the Valley June 20 to 25, 1893 (Emerson, 1893, p. 179). Frequents open situations, 

 chiefly in chaparral, especially where sparingly interrupted by oaks; forages usually 

 alone, rarely in pairs, never in flocks. 



The Ash-throated Flycatcher resembles the Western Kingbird in 

 general form and tone of coloration, but differs unmistakably in habits 

 and demeanor. It has none of the aggressive, belligerent actions which 

 characterize the kingbird, but attends to the business of catching insects 

 in a pleasingly quiet manner. Unlike many of the Flycatcher tribe, the 

 Ash-throat does not often return to the same location after sallying forth 



