TYUAXNIIJ.E — TlIK FLYCATCIIEUS. 



35;j 



Contopus borealis, Haikd. 



OLIVE-BIOED FLYCATCHER. 



Turniniiis bumtlis, Sw. k Uioil. F. Itor.-Aui. II, 1H31, 141, pliitc. Mi/iuliius Ijuiriilis, 

 OitAV, (Jcni'iu, 1, '2ii. Musficu/ia cuopcri, NriTALL, Man. 1, 18yj, ^S'J. — Arn. 

 Oiii. Hiog. 11, 1834, Vl-i ; V, ISUi), 422, I'l. clxxiv. — In. Syiioiisis, 18;J!I, 41. In. 

 Birds Am. I, 1840, 212, \i\. Iviii. I'l/mnnun coiijicri, linN.vi'. List, 1838. — NliiAl.i,, 

 Man. I, (2(1. I'll.,) 184(1, 2!I8. (,'oiiliijiiis eimpn-i, Caiiani.s, .Idiiriial liir (»niilli<il. Ill, 

 Nov. 18r).'i, 470. Mii.scifiijKi hiiii-nnlii, XrriAi.i., iMaii. 1, 1832, 282. ('iiii>ii/>iis hin'mlis, 

 Haiiiii, Uinls X. Am. 1858, 188. — Codi'Kit & Si:i;Kl.r.v, lUU. — Sci.atkii, ( atiil, l^(i2, 

 230. — Sa.mim;i..s, 13'i. — C'diii'Ki!, Oni. C'lil. I, 1870, 323. C'iiiifi>/)ii.i iKisult'iiru-i. .Sci.a- 

 TKli, P. Z. S. 18.')9, 43. — lu. Ibis, 1859, 122, 151. Ti/miinit.s iiii/iicuiiii. Max. Uib. 

 J. VI, 18.^.8, 184. 



Sp. Ciiah. Win<;s long, much pointod ; the second quill lonjre.st ; the lir.-it loiijri'r tlian 

 the tiiird. Tail di'cply forked. Tar.-ii .-^liort. The upper parts usliy-browii, sliuwiug 

 darker brown centres of the feathers; this is emi- 

 nently the ca.se on the top of the head ; the sides of 

 the head and neek, of the breast and body, re.sem- 

 bling the back, but with the edges of the featliLTS 

 tinged with gray, leaving a darker central streak. 

 The chin, throat, narrow lino down the middle of the 

 breast and body, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts 

 white, or .sonietinies with a faint tinge of yellow. 

 The lower tail-coverts somewhat streaked with brown 

 in the centre. On each side of the rump, generally 

 concealed by the wing.-;, is an elongated bunch of 

 white silky feather.s. The wings and tail very dark 

 brown, the former with the edges of the sei'ondaries 

 and tertials edged with dull white. The lower wing- 

 coverts and axillaries gniyi.sh-brown. The tips of the 

 primaries and tail-feathers rather jialer. Feet and 



upper mandilile black, lower mandible brown. TIk; yomig of tin; year similar, but the 

 color duller; edges of wing-leathers dull rusty instead of grayish-white. The feet light 

 brown. lA-ngth, 7.50 ; wing, i.X\ ; tail, 3.30 ; tarsus, .00. 



TIai!. Norihern portions of whole of North Amerieii, throughout Rocky Mnuiitain.';. 

 .south through elevafeil regions of Mexico to Costa Riea. Localities: Oaxaca, high reiiions, 

 Oct. (Sol. 18.")8, 301); Xalai)a (Sol. 18o9, 300) ; Guatemala (Sci,. Iliis, T, 122); Costa 

 Rica (Lawk. IX, 115); Veragua (8ai,v. 1870, 190); San Antonio. Texas (Duksskh, Ibi.s, 

 18G5, 474, winter). 



Tliere i.s wonderfully little variation in this species, both in coloration ami 

 size, with diflerent regions ; in fact none other than individual can be 

 observed. Contrary to the usual rule, spring sjjecimens have a more 

 appreciable sulpliur-yellow tinge below. 



Habits. This still comparatively rare species was first obtained by Kich- 

 ardson and described by Swainsnn. Tlie specimen was shot on tlie Sas- 

 katoliewan. No other was taken, and no ini'orm.ation was obtained in reference 

 to its habits. It appears to have been next met with by Mr. John Iletlnine, 

 in Cambridge, June 7, 1830, in the woods of Mount Auburn. This and a 



Contnptis borfal'ts. 



vol,. II. 



lo 



