BLV !:-<: HAY GNATCATCllEIt. 29 



nest strikingly reminds one of that of a Humming Bird, only It \s much larger, being, in fact, very largo for the 

 >prcies to which it belongs, vet its beautiful Unlsh does credit to Its delicate architect. Dimensions. External 

 diameter. -> inches : internal, in the middle, 2-00 inches; at the mouth, 1-50 inches; external depth, 2-75 inches; 

 internal. r.'iO inches. 



/.'</:/. from four to six in number, short oval in form ; pure white in color, spotted and blotched Irregularly with 

 reddish-brown, limber and lilac. Dimensions, from -4;!.v5G to -4(ix-GO. The eggs from which I have taken the 

 above description are in the cabinet of the Boston Society of Natural History, where Mr. F. G. Sauborn kindly 

 allowed me to examine them. A description which Dr. Brewer has obligingly forwarded to me at my request, 

 corresponds to that which I have given. 



HABITS. 



The little Hliic-gray Gnatcatcher is the personification of graceful activity. We sec it 

 skipping about among the underbrush on the edges of a hummock with half spread wings and 

 expanded tail. Then it disappears as if by magic, and we hear its lisping note high overhead, 

 as it poises itself for an instant on the topmost bough of a tall live oak before launching into 

 air to snap up some passing fly, or hangs head downward that it may peer into the crevices 

 of the rough bark ; but in the next second will be hovering before the large white blossom of 

 the i/iiiifiinlfn i/rttinlijft>rii, while it lightly removes a tiny beetle from the creamy petals. 

 Thus it flits constantly from place to place ever busied in searching for insects and the most 

 casual observer will pause to admire its rapid but elegant movements. 



During winter they may be found in scattering flocks and I have seen hundreds of them in 

 a single day at Key \Vest. But singularly nine-tenths of those which I took there were 

 females. I think that this may be accounted for by the fact that Key West is the southern 

 limit for this species, during winter, in the eastern section of the Union. The adult males of 

 all species of birds are apt to wander more than the young males or the females ; therefore the 

 more venturesome males crossed into Cuba leaving their mates behind, to await their return in 

 the spring. Many Gnatcatchers, however, remaiu in the more northern portions of Florida, 

 but here we find that the majority are adult males as the)' are hardier and better able to 

 withstand the colder climate. In March they pair and move about independent of their fellows, 

 although they sometimes associate with the Warblers or Titmice. 



lu early winter I never heard them utter aught else than the soft lisping "see see," and was 

 not aware that they had any other song until February 4th, 1871. I was walking in a narrow 

 path through a hummock, which lies back of the old fort at Miami, and had paused to observe 

 a female of this species, when I heard a low warbling which sounded like the distant song of 

 some bird that I had never heard before. I listened attentively but could make nothing of it, 

 and advanced a few paces, when I heard it more plainly. This time it appeared to come from 

 above me, and looking upward I saw a male Gnatcatcher hopping nimbly from limb to limb on 

 some small trees which skirted the woods. Although he was but a short distance away, I was 

 obliged to watch the motions of his little throat before I became convinced that this music came 

 from him. It was even so, and nothing could be more appropriate to the delicate marking and 

 si/e of the tiny fairy-like bird than this silvery warble which filled the air with sweet, continuous 

 melody. I was completely surprised for I never imagined that any bird was capable of 

 producing notes so soft and low, yet each one given with such distinctness that the ear 

 could catch every part of the wondrous and complicated song. I watched him for some time 

 but he never ceased singing, save when he sprung into air to catch some insect. The female 

 which was near seemed to enjoy the musical efforts that were- executed for her benefit for she 

 drew gradually nearer, until she alighted upon the same little tree with her mate. At this 

 moment she took alarm and flew a short distance followed by the male. As I walked away I 

 could hear the murmur of the love song until it became indistinguishable from the gentle 

 rustling of the leaves around. 



I have heard them -ing but a few times since then and only once as finely. This was a vear 



