JL 



620 The Sparrow-like Birds 



trusive woodland birds of quiet ways and gentle manner, building an artistic 

 nest on the ground, or more frequently in the crotch of a bush or low tree. The 

 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (E. flaviventris), Acadian Flycatcher (E. virescens), 

 and the Least Flycatcher, or Chebec (E. minimus}, are examples. 



Similar to these, but of larger size and having a relatively longer wing and 

 shorter tarsi, are the members of the genus Myiochanes (C onto pus), of which a 

 dozen or more forms are recognized. The Wood Pewee (M. wrens) and Olive- 

 sided Flycatcher (Nuttallornis borealis) are well-known species of the eastern 

 United States. 



Vermilion and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. As an example of the bright 

 colors that occasionally occur among the Tyrant-birds we may mention the 

 Vermilion Flycatchers (Pyrocephalus), of which some half dozen forms are 

 recognized. They are small birds, from four and a half to five and a half 

 inches long, ranging from the southern United States to Argentina and 

 the Galapagos Islands. In the form reaching the United States (P. rubineus 

 mexicanus) the adult male has the whole top of the crested head as well as 

 the entire lower parts a bright scarlet, while the remainder of the upper 

 parts are a brownish gray. The mature female is brownish gray above, 

 and streaked whitish, tinged posteriorly with pale red below. Even more 

 striking is the splendid Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Muscivora forficata), which 

 ranges from eastern Mexico into the southwestern United States as far as 

 Missouri and Kansas, and accidentally much farther. The mature male is 

 light bluish-gray above, tinged with red on the back and white below, 

 washed on sides, flanks, and under tail-coverts with salmon-pink, while the 

 axillaries and a concealed crown spot are scarlet; the long, deeply forked 

 tail is chiefly white ; the length is between twelve and fifteen inches, of which 

 seven to ten inches are included in the tail. Of the habits and appearance of the 

 Scissor-tail, McCauley gives the following account, his observations having 

 been made along the Red River of Texas: "This peculiarly beautiful and grace- 

 ful bird was one of the species most frequently seen. They were especially 

 active in the evening, just before dusk, skimming about in pursuit of insects 

 with wonderful rapidity. As the males fly about the camp with their mates, 

 in the twilight, you can single them out by the greater length of their tails. The 

 two elegant feathery tines cross and open at volition, whence the ordinary 

 simile to a pair of scissors. These birds are grace itself when on wing, darting 

 here and there as quick as thought, in buoyant sweeps and curves. The deli- 

 cate crimson below their wings, as they go glancing by, glows in contrast with 

 the beautiful hoary ash of their general plumage. ... In the evening they were 

 particularly shy, avoiding close proximity to the camp; in the early morning, 

 however, they seemed to be less suspicious of our presence. This was very 

 noticeable in going up the Palo Duro, where they would sometimes fly closely 

 by or alight within a dozen yards and poise upon a branch of a small bush, 

 like the Field-lark. They were found frequenting the fringe of timber bordering 

 the streams as far as their headwaters in the Staked Plains." 



