670 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



Plain, it was presumed that possibly the species might have extended 

 down the Canadian from Fort Union and the Raton Range to the canou 

 region of the Llano Estacado, distant from the Canadian about twenty- 

 JBive miles, for many localities visited possess all the characteristics of 

 the Magpie's habitat in the Rocky Mountain region, save the character 

 istic dryness of the atmosphere. It is reported, however, in Eastern 

 Kansas (Snow, B. Kans., 1873), and in an atmosphere of much greater 

 humidity than that of the Staked Plain. None were found on the route 

 to Dodge City from the south. 



TYRANNID.^. 



MiLVULUS FORFiCATUS, (Gm.) Sw. — Swallow-tailed Flycatcher; Scissor- 

 tails. 



This peculiarly beautiful and graceful bird was one of the species most 

 frequently seen. They were especially active in the evening, just before 

 dusk, skimming about in pursuit of insects with wonderful rapidity. 

 As the males fly about the camp with their mates, iu the twilight, you 

 cau single them out by the greater length of their tails. The two elegant 

 feathery tines cross and open at v^olition, whence the ordinary simile to 

 a pair of scissors. These birds are grace itself when on wing, darting 

 here and there as quick as thought, in buoyant sweeps and curves. 

 The delicate crimson below their wings, as they go glancing by, glows in 

 contrast with the beautiful hoary ash of their general plumage; and as 

 the little heart ceases to palpitate, you pick up your specimen with a 

 pang of remorse, and for once mentally agree with thefriend beside you — 

 visiting the Staked Plain in the "invalid ''interest, and strongly au antir 

 collector — that, as he avers, "a bird-skinner is as bad as a butcher". 

 Even the teamsters call them " mighty i)retty", and no one wonders 

 that the " Texicans" (as our scouts, old buifalo hunters, title the natives) 

 brag on their beauty, and call them "Birds of Paradise". In the even- 

 ing, they were particularly shy, avoiding close proximity to camp; in 

 the early morning, however, they seemed to be less suspicious of our 

 presence. This was very noticeable in going up the Palo Duro, where 

 they would sometimes fly closely by, or alight within a dozen yards 

 and poise upon a branch of a small bush, like the Field-lark. They 

 were found frequenting the fiiuge of timber bordering the streams as 

 far as their headwaters in the Staked Plain, as well as along the streams 

 in the Indian Territory — Wolf Creek, and others farther north emptying 

 into the Cimarron — all draining portions of the Arkansas Basin. They 

 ruled the wood wherever located, and not only repelled, but hotly pur- 

 sued any Sparrow-hawk (F. sparverius) that ventured near their homes, 

 and even maintained authority over the Kingbird (T. carolinensis). The 

 greatest tail-length in any of the species secured did not exceed 10 

 inches. 



In the course of a trip last spring along the Rio Grande as far as Fort 



