1 84 LEAST FL YCA TCHER. 



muscular, walls '15 thick. Larynx provided with a thick and strong sterno-trachealis. Broncho-trachealLs quite well de- 

 veloped, also bronchialis anticus. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, including upper tail coverts, olivaceous-green, darkest on the head, where the feathers show 

 dusky centers, and paler on the rump and upper tail coverts, with a plumbeous under tint on the nape. AVings and tail, 

 dark-brown, with the outer feathers of the latter lighter. Tips, edges of the terminal two thirds of the secondaries, outer 

 edges of thetertiaries, tips of primaries andoftwo rowsofwing coverts, forming bars, pale yellowish-white. Beneath, white, 

 becoming yellowish on the abdomen and under tail coverts. Sides, flanks, and an indistinct band across breast, olivaceous. 

 Under wing coverts, yellowish-white. There is a broad white ring around the eye and the lores are white mixed with 

 dusky. Bill, brown, yellow at base of lower mandible. Feet, brown. 



Youny of the year in autumn. Browner above than in the adult stage, the whitish wing bars are decidedly yellowish , 

 and the olivaceous markings below are inclined to be yellow also, while the band on the breast is better defined. The un- 

 der mandible Is wholly yellow. 



Nest/inys. Nearly slaty above, with a greenish overwashing. Beneath, white, with a faint tingeof yellowish. The 

 band on the breast is scarcely discernible and the other dark markings below are not nearly as extended. Sexes, similar in 

 all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens vary somewhat in shade of color above, some being quite dark while the same birds will frequently be very 

 yellow below, with the hand across the breast quite clearly defined. In this stage of plumage, these birds .o nearly resem- 

 ble Traill's Flycatcher that it is almost impossible to detect any difference in the dried skins although the same birds would 

 be easily recognized in the flesh. The precise differences between this species and other members of the genus are given 

 under observations in the succeeding pages. Distributed in summer throughout Eastern United States between latitudes 

 40 and 47 J . Winters in Central America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty specimens from New England. Length, 5'50; stretch, 8' 10; wing, 2'40; tail, 2' 17; 

 bill, '66; tarsus, '38. Longest specimen, 3*70; greatest extent of wing, 3'50; longest wing, 2'65; tail, 2' 40; bill, '70; 

 tarsus, '42. Shortest specimen, 5'30; smallest extent of wing, 7'70; shortest wing, 2'25; tail, 2'5<); bill, '62; tarsus, '35. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees, composed of dried grass, woody fibers, cotten, etc., all neatly woven and held in place with cob- 

 webs. Lined with horse-hair and feathers. Dimensions, external diameter, 2'75, internal, 1'57. External depth, 2'00, 

 internal, 1'50. 



Eyys, four in number, rather elliptical in form, yellowish-white in color, usually unspotted. Dimensions from '60s 

 50 to '65 x -52. 



HABITS. 



About the first week in May the abruptly given che-beck of the Least Flycatcher is to 

 be heard in the orchards and along the hedge-rows of New England, and I will venture to 

 assert that there are none among our native birds whose advent is so noticeable. Not only 

 do their energetic notes announce their presence, but the disturbance which they always 

 create among the other members of the feathered tribe, renders them conspicuous; for the 

 Least Flycatchers are the most pugnacious species which visit us, not excepting even the 

 King Birds. Like most of the present family, they migrate very rapidly and, as particu- 

 lar birds exhibit a predilection for certain spots to which they return season after season, 

 every orchard is soon tenanted by its elf. I say elf, for truly elvish are the tricks displayed 

 by the Least Flycatchers. Nothing in the form of a bird is allowed to remain Avithin the 

 bounds of their jurisdiction; a group of brightly colored Warblers will come trooping through 

 the orchard in order to feed upon the insects which infest the growing leaves, when sud- 

 denly, down swoops the little tyrant with loud cries and, rapidly snapping his bill, like an 

 epitomized fury he darts from left to right among the astonished visitants who unable to 

 withstand this fierce assault, beat a hasty retreat and in a twinkling the Flycatcher is back 



