BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 253 
My personal observations of the feeding habits of this bird 
differ a little from those generally given, in that I have found 
them in the very tops of the trees at such times, giving little 
heed to my presence so far below them. When on, or near the 
ground. they are extremely reticent and equally shy. The nest 
as repeatedly described to me by those who have discovered it, 
is from five to seven feet above the ground, on a branch at the 
first division from the trunk of a sapling, or in the forks of a 
considerable bush. At the time of their first arrival, I have 
found them almost common since knowing their habits, but 
they become very shy indeed when once the incubation has 
begun. They leave us simultaneously with the arrival of the 
frosts in autumn. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Second, third and fourth quill nearly equal; first inter- 
mediate between fifth and sixth; tail nearly even, slightly 
rounded; tarsi long, above bright olive-green; crown rather 
darker; a broad yellow ring around the eye; the sides of the head, 
neck, breast and body, and a band across the breast like the back, 
but lighter; the rest of the lower parts bright sulphur-yellow— 
no white or ashy anywhere on the body—quills dark brown; two 
bands on the wing formed by the tips of the primary and 
secondary coverts, the outer edge of the first primary and of 
the secondaries and tertials pale yellow or greenish-yellow; 
the tail feathers brown, with the exterior edges like the 
back. Bill dark brown above, yellow beneath; feet black. In 
the autumn the colors are purer, the yellow is deeper, and 
_the markings on the wings of an ochry tint. 
Length, 5.15; wing, 2.83; tail, 2.45. 
Habitat, eastern North America to the plains, and from 
Southern Labrador south through Eastern Mexico to Panama, 
breeding from the Northern States northward. 
EMPIDONAX ACADICUS (Gettin). (465.) 
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. 
I have been agreeably surprised to find that this species is 
fairly common in Minnesota. The average time of arrival has 
been May 20th, and they have habitually left in their southern 
migration about the 10th of September. The confounding of 
this species with £. traillii by so many experts early put me on 
my guard, and I believe I have always been spared a final 
doubt as to its identity. Prof. Baird’s discrimination between 
these two species has been completely verified by my local 
observations. The nesting has been begun about the second 
week in June, although I have had the nest, mother, and 
