A Catalogue of Birds obtained in Navarro County, Texas. 223 



of incubation, but during the fall they appear more frequently 

 about the edges of the timber, generally in pairs, though small 

 family parties occasionally occur ; and in sheltered glades individ- 

 uals linger up to the middle of October, but the greater number 

 leave a month previous to that date. 



Empidonax acadicus (Gmel.) Acadian Flycatcher. — I met 

 with this species only during August and September, when it may 

 be found in considerable numbers along the outskirts of the wood- 

 lands, about the edges of clearings in the timber, and even in 

 small patches of bushes upon the prairie, always choosing places 

 where there are low scattered shrubs, on which they rest in pre- 

 ference to more lofty trees ; but wherever they may be they are 

 shy and restless under observation, flitting ceaselessly about from 

 branch to branch, and frequently uttering a sharp complaining 

 note. Their food consists generally of minute insects, with 

 which a few seeds are often mingled. 



Empidonax pusillus trailli (Aud.) Traill's Flycatcher. — 

 A common summer visitor to the deepest recesses of the low-lying 

 districts along the banks of the Trinity River, and its tributary 

 creeks, where its shy and retiring habits cause it to be easily 

 overlooked unless special search be made for it. I usually observed 

 this form in places where there was a considerable growth of 

 underwood, upon which they perched sooner than on more ele- 

 vated resting-places. They are more plentiful and more familiar 

 in the fall than during the breeding-season. 



Empidonax minimus, Baird. Least Flycatcher. — This is much 

 the rarest species of Empidonax in our district, and is only an 

 autumn migrant, occurring occasionally about the edges of creeks 

 and detached brakes during August and September. The stomachs 

 of both my sj)ecimens were crammed with minute coleoptera. 



Trochilus colubris, Linn. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. 

 — ^An abundant summer visitor to suitable localities, arriving about 

 the beginning of May, and chiefly frequenting orchards and open 

 glades in the low-lying timber districts ; they are quite unsuspicious, 

 carrying on their pursuits within a few feet of the observer and 

 habitually resorting to even small garden patches beside busy 

 thoroughfares of towns. They are specially numerous about open 

 places in the vicinity of water. During the last week of August I 

 first observed them passing southward on migration, and from that 



