872 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



Nest, in orchards, thickets and woods, in upright fork or on hori- 

 zontal limb; of shreds of bark, grass, plant fibres, vegetable down, 

 feathers, string, etc.; lined with fine down and hair. Eggs, 3-6; pale 

 creamy-white; .64 by .50. 



Rather common migrant southward. Summer resident in some 

 numbers northward. It arrives earlier than the species just men- 

 tioned, sometimes by April 20. It is the smallest of the Flycatchers, 

 and may readily be distinguished by its size. It is called, in many places, 

 Che-bee, from its note, which is very distinctly "che-bec" It is to 

 be found most often in straggling woods, along the edges, and about 

 roads through woodland, and in strips of woods along hill-tops. With 

 us, I have generally found it upon the higher land, where it is very 

 quiet, seldom saying anything, and then only uttering a sharp "whit." 

 It industriously pursues flying insects, and even when one does not 

 see it he is reminded of its presence by hearing the snap of jaws as it 

 seizes its prey. 



The earliest and latest date of its first appearance is, at Brook- 

 ville, April 24, 1886, May 8, 1882; Bloomington, May 3, 1892; Rich- 

 mond, May 22, 1897; Sedan, April 20, 1889, May 3, 1885; Lake 

 County, May 16, 1877 and 1880; Chicago, May 5, 1879, May 23, 1896. 

 It has been reported breeding in Lake County and in Dekalb County. 

 Mr. J. 0. Snyder found a nest, with fresh eggs, near Waterloo, June 

 3, 1885. Prof. B. W. Evermann says it is a summer resident, not 

 common in Carroll County. Its disappearance in fall occurs in late 

 August and September. It was last reported at the following places: 

 Brookville, August 31, 1883; Cincinnati, 0., August 27, 1879; Sedan, 

 September 7, 1889; Chicago, 111., September 30, 1895; Bicknell, Sep- 

 tember 18, 1895. Its small size does not prevent it from doing great 

 good. Its food is principally the smaller insects and occasionally a 

 little fruit. 



Prof. F. H. King says the examination of 23 showed they had eaten 

 30 beetles, 18 diptera (flies and gnats), 2 heteroptera, 37 winged ants, 

 2 small ichneumon flies, 3 caterpillars, 1 moth, 4 small dragonflies 

 and 1 spider (Geol. of Wis., p. 562). 



This is the only one of the little Flycatchers that tries to sing; at 

 least, that attempts what to my ears bears some resemblance to music. 

 It has a little song, that one may occasionally hear it try to sing, that 

 is quite a credit to a Flycatcher. 



