FLYCATCHERS. 



251 



catcher, is not identifiable. Muncicapa traillii was described by Audubon from 

 Arkansas, and Mr. Brewster considers specimens from Arkansas and the Mis- 

 sissippi V'alley south of latitude 42' as inseparable from those inhabiting the 

 region westward to the Pacific, to which he would therefore apply the name 

 Empidonax traillii. In brief, the form previously known as E. pusillus becomes 

 E. traillii, and the Mississippi Valley birds south of latitude 4a*, which formerly 

 were considered the same as those from the Atlantic States, are placed with the 

 western rather than the eastern bird. This course leaves the eastern bird with- 

 out a name, and Mr. Brewster proposes to call it Empidonaj- truillii alnorum ,' 

 Alder Flycatcher. 



Western specimens aferage somewhat browner than eastern ones, and have 

 slightly larger bills, but, in my opinion, the differences are too slight to warrant 

 their continued separation, and I would apply the name traillii to both. 



467. Empidonax mtnJmw Jinird. Least FtYc^TriiER ; CiiKnKr. 

 Ad. — Upper jntrts between olive-grceii and olive or olive-brown; win<rsiiii<l 

 tail fuscous ; j^ronter and lessor wiiiyr-coverts tiiifred wit'i n.sliy white; under 

 parts whitish, washed with dusky grayish on the breast and sides and gen- 

 erally with a slight tinge ofyellowisli on tlio belly ; lower niandiitle generally 

 horn-color. Im. — ^Dnder j arts slightly mure yellow. L., r>-41 ; W., 'i-Sl; T., 

 2"2l ; B. from N., -31. 



lit^riKtrks. — This is the smallest of our Flyeatelurs. \{< A7.v, thv eonij>ara- 

 tive absence of yellow on the under parts, and the generally horri-eolored or 

 brown lower mandible are its chief distiiiguishiiig eliaractcrs. 



/(•awf/f.— Eastern United States; breeds from I'eiinsylvania to Quebec; 

 winters in Central Anieriea. 



Wasliington, coninion T, V., A]>1. 2") to May 2') ; Aug. 28 to Sept. 25. Sing 

 Sing, tolerably common S. H., Apl. 25 to Aug. 2t>. Cambridge, abuiulaiit 

 S. R., May 1 to Aug. 25. 



Ni'xt, of i)lant down, plant filieiv, rootlets, fine strips of bark, and long 

 liaiix, generally in a crotch live to fitleen feet up. /w^va, three to live, white, 

 unmarked, -(W x 51. 



When music was distributed, I believe most of our Plyciitcliers liad 

 back seats. It was an unfortunate cireumstance, for their sedentary 

 habits and apparently thoughtful, serious, even poetic dispositions 

 make one believe that with proper training they might have taken 

 high rank as musicians. 



Instead of the simple melody we might expect to hear from the 

 modest Least Flycatcher, ho salutes us with a singularly inappropriate, 

 business-like cheher, cheher, varying the {)erformance by nuirderous 

 sallies after passing insects. In crescendo passages he literally rises to 

 the occasion, and on trembling wings sings an absurd " chehi'c, (ooral- 

 oornl, rhfht'r, tnornl-oornl" with an earnestness deserving better results. 



The Chebec. however, possesses originality; we can not confuse his 

 voice with that of any other bird, and young ornithologists should 

 give him a vote of thanks for his clear enunciation. 



He prefers fruit and shade trees to those of forest growth, and is 

 therefore an inhabitant of our lawns and orchards. 



1^ 



