348 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



of Vera ('ruz, Init wlietlier tliere as resident or as exclusively migratory he 

 was not able to state. It lias also been found in winter throughout Alexico. 

 Mr. J. II. Clark met with it near Fort WeUster, in Xew^le.xico, and describes 

 it as particularly abundant about the cojiijer mines. One of the sliaits near 

 the fort, and w liicii was partially filled u]), served as a sinkliole i'or the oll'id 

 of the town, and around this quite a number of these birds cftuld always be 

 seen in pursuit of Hies and insects attracted to the place. Mi', ("lark observed 

 that their sudden darting from their perch and their instantaneous return 

 were not always attended with the capture of an insect, but seemed at times 

 to be done only for ainusenient or exercise. Mr. Dres.ser first noticed these 

 birds in November, when walking in the gardens of the arsenal at San 

 Antonio. On liis journey to Eagle Pass in December, lie saw several daily, 

 generally in i)air,s. They would perch on a bush by the roadside, occasionally 

 darting off" after some insect, and, as soon as he drew near, would lly off to a 

 convenient perch some distance ahead, thus kee])ing in advance for miles. 

 During the months o\' January and February tliey were not uncommon, 

 but after tliat he lost sight of them altogether. They seemed to prefer 

 the open country, as he generally found tliein on the prairies, and never 

 in the mesquite thickets. Their stomachs were found to contain small 

 insects. 



Dr. Woodhouse frequently met with these birds in Western Texas and in 

 New ^lexico. They seemed more silent and more shy than the fuscus, but 

 otherwise similar in tlieir habits. 



Dr. Kennerly met with this species at Bill "Williams's Fork, New Mexico, 

 February 10, 1854. He states that he found them common in Texas, and as 

 far to the westward as the Great Colorado Kiver. Tliey built their nests 

 under the cliffs along the stream, and iu notes and in every other respect 

 closely resembled the common Pewee. 



Dr. Heermann mentions finding this species almndant in Southern Cali- 

 fornia. It was more especially plentiful iu the fall, at tlie time oi' its migra- 

 tion southward. lie also found it in New Mexico, in tlie northern part of 

 Texas, near £1 Paso, and in Sacramento Valley, though somewhat rare. In 

 migrating, it prefers the deej) valleys bordered by higli hills, but also occurs 

 on the open plains, where, perched on the stalk of some dead weed, or on a 

 prominent rock, it darts forth in pursuit of its prey, to return to the same 

 point. 



In Arizona, Dr. Cones found this Flycatcher common throughout the Ter- 

 ritory. At Fort AVhipple it was a summer resident. It was one of tlie lirst 

 of the migratory l)irds to make its appearance in S]iriiig, arriving early in 

 M.irch, and remained among the last, staying until October. It winters 

 in tlie Colorado Valley and the .southern portions of the Temtory generally. 

 He ibuiid it frequenting almost exclusively open jilains, in stunted cha])aiTal 

 and sage brush. In .some other points of habits it is said to differ remark- 

 ably from our other Flycatchens. It does not habitually I'requent canons, 



