TYRANXID/E — THE FLYCATCHERS. 361 



A large series shows considemlile variations; autumnal specimens have a 

 more appreciable tinge of yellow on the lower parts, while summer individ- 

 uals are more grayish. 



Habits. Tliis species was first obtained by Richardson in tlie Arctic 

 regions, and doscrilied by Swainson. It was found in tlie neigliborliood of 

 the Cumberlantl House, wlierc it frecpiented moist shady woods by tlie 

 banks of rivers and lakes. It was supposed likely to travel in summer as 

 fiir as the shores of the (Jreat Slave Lake. 



Since its discovery by Iticiiardson, this Flycatcher has been found to have 

 a widely extended geograpliical rang(>, as I'ar to tlie south as Guatemala, and 

 even Panama, and northward as far as the GUth parallel of latitude, and from 

 tlie great plains to the Pacific. 



During the survey of the ^Mexican Boundary, specimens of this bird were 

 obtained by Mr. J. H. Clark in Kl Paso, Texas, and in the month of May by 

 Lieutenant Couch in Monterey, Mexico. 



JNIr. Dresser found tliat this bird was very common near Matamoras dur- 

 ing the summer, and that they were breeding there. He also shot one speci- 

 men near San Antonio in ]May. Its stomach contained small insects. Dr. 

 Cones thinks this Flycatcher an exceedingly abundant summer resident in tlie 

 Territory of Arizona. It arrives tliero in sjiring about the first of ^lay, the 

 latest of the Flycatcliers, and is deemed l)y tlie Doctor a counterpart of the 

 eastern C'onfopnn rircnu. It departs fnnn tiiat Territory ahout the tliird week 

 in September. It is found in all situations, but most especially in open forests. 



This species arrives in California, according to Dr. Coojjer, at least a fort- 

 night earlier than the date of its earliest advuiit in Arizona as given by Dr. 

 Coues, or about the lath of April, and spends its summers in the most 

 mountainous parts of the State. It is said to perch mainly on the lower 

 dead limbs, watching for the jiassing insects, uttering occasionally a plaintive 

 jK-ah. It is usually very silent, and seems to prei'er the dark, solitary 

 recesses of the forests. 



Dr. Hoy informs me that this Flycatcher is occasionally f')und in the 

 neighl)orhood of Itacine, but that it is rare. It keeps in the deep forest, 

 and never comes near dwellings in the manner of C. vircii'i. 



This l)ird Avas found lu-eoding at Fort Tejon by Mr. Xantus, at N"apa 

 Valley by Mr. A. J. Grayson, and both in the Sacramento Valley and at 

 Parley's Park, among the Wahsiitch Mountains, by Mr. Pidgway. 



A nest of this bird in the Smithsonian Museum (10,07(3) from California, 

 collected by W. Vuille, had been ap]iarently sadiUed on the limb of a tree, 

 in the manner of C. rirrns, having a l)road ilattened base, and a general 

 resemblance to the nests of that species. It dill'ors, however, somewhat in 

 regard to materials, and mo.st esjiecially in having no lichens attached to the 

 exterior. It has a diameter of three inches and a height of one and a half. 

 The cavity is aliout one inch deep and two wide at the rim. The base and 

 sides of this nest are largely composed of the exuviie of clirysalides, inter- 



voi.. II. 46 



