TYUANNID.K — TlIK FLYCATCHERS. 325 



ill! lliu wiiy IVoiii tliuiici! to llic Inivsts of tlit'Coliiiiibiii iiiid tliu Wiililiiinut, 

 ttiid tlirouylumt Ciilirurnia In lalilutlu '.'>2". Jlu siiwiks of llieiii as roiiiarkalily 

 noisy and ((luirriilsunio with each otiior, and, liko tliu Kinj,'l)iid, .sulU'iinj^- 

 notliin;,' of tlio bird kiml to ai)i)roaL'ii tiieni without exhibiting thuir \nvd[- 

 lection lor diH|niti!. Hu dcscrilics tiieir note as a diseordant, clicking wailde, 

 I'osonililing fnh'k-tuk'k-tshimiit, — 8(junding not unlike the crciaking of a rusty 

 docu'-hinge, soniothing in the manner of a Kingl)ird, witii a blending of tiie 

 notes of the common I'urph^ (li'akle. 



Mr. Townsend mentions linding this l)ird numerous along the banks of 

 the Platte, particularly in the vicinity of trees. From that river tu tlie 

 banks of the Cohnnbia, and as far as the ocean, it was a very common 

 species. The males were wonderfully belligerent, fighting almost constant- 

 ly and with great fury. 



Dr. .r. Cr. Cooper states that in California this is an abundant spiicies, 

 arriving in that State about the 2tltli of March. None are known to remain 

 within tiie State during the winter. Small parlies of males come lirst, and 

 arc; very (piarrelsome imtil each one has selected its nu ic. Tiiis is not done 

 for several weeks, and the earliest nest with eggs that he has found was on 

 the 12th of May at Santa Barbara. The nest, built on a branch of a low oak 

 near the town, was five inches wide, constructed of licliens, twigs, coarse 

 grass, and wool, lined with hair. It contained four eggs, measuring .9-4 by 

 .70 of an inch. He de.scribes them as creamy-white, spotted witli inirple of 

 two shailes near the larger end. 



These birds are said to be almost an exact counter])art of the Kingl)ird, 

 exhibiting tlie same courage in defence of their nests. Their notes are more 

 varied and noisy, and they utter them almost constantly during the spring, 

 often when Hying and figiiting. They are very destructive to bees, but com- 

 pensate for tiiis damage by destroying great quantities of noxious insects. 

 They leave the State in October. At Tuget Sound, early in June, J)r. Coo])er 

 found this species associating with the common Kingbird without any signs 

 of disagreement, though their similar habits would naturally lead to disputes. 

 lie has even seen them together in])arties of ibur about the period of mating. 

 They do not approach the coast in Washington Territory. 



Dr. Suckley found this species abundant in the central and western por- 

 tions of Oregon and Washington Territory. He first ncjted their arrival from 

 the South about May 15. The first notification of their presence is given 

 by the skirmishes and quarrels incident to the love-.season. Their battles 

 are generally fought in the air, and present ludicrous alternations of pursuit 

 and flight. At Fort Dalles their favorite breeding-places were oak-trees for 

 the most part. 



Mr. Charles D. Gibbes, of Stockton, informs us that these birds occasionally 

 build their nests in the shrubbery about the gardens, but more frequently 

 in large oak-trees, fifteen or twenty feet from the ground. They are con- 

 structed of weeds and grass firmly woven together, and lined with cotton. 



