674 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



roots, whilst for the iuterior they had apparently carefully selected 

 choice bits of cotton, at times arranged in strata, over which was buf- 

 falo-wool liberally placed and neatly fastened and bound with finest 

 threads. The lining of the interior was unusually soft, being padded 

 in a peculiar manner with the wool itself within. In the homes of the 

 two preceding species, the eggs rest upon the slender roots and threads 

 which thickly cover and bind together the underlying wool ; but this 

 Flycatcher is more select; he fastens the tufts of wool below in such a 

 way that the eggs have a resting-place almost as soft as down, and the 

 intertwining threads are scarcely visible. Until we came, what a happy, 

 fortunate mouse the little thief at White Fish was ! The groundcolor 

 of the eggs was a light cream, uniform throughout, with lavender and 

 purple blotches, with some of a darker purple, all disposed mainly near- 

 est the larger end, but to be found over the whole surface. Occasion- 

 ally some were scattered over the little end itself. It having been stated 

 that the eggs of this and caroUnensis were, with difficulty, or very fre- 

 quently "not distinguishable", I made very careful comparisons of the 

 two. Of the same family, and so closely allied, it might be supposed 

 that they would build similar nests and of the same material. They do, 

 but the nests are of slightly different shape, more oval in most cases 

 examined than the T. caroUnensis, which is circular and averages 4^ 

 inches diameter outer circumference, and 3J within, with almost twice 

 the depth. The eggs of this species lie upon the wool itself, whilst the 

 former's interior is a fine network of bark fibres matted above and 

 within the wool. As to the eggs, which I found averaging 0.92 by 0.70 

 themselves, whilst there would be a great uncertainty in the size, they 

 may be distinguished as follows : — 



1. Shape. — TLe Qgg of this species has its small end well rounded, 

 being decidedly oval; that of caroUnensis a decided point, although 

 their lengths and greatest thicknesses are about the same. 



2. Color. — The groundcolor of the former being a richer cream color, 

 more of a chrome-yellow tint than this. In all the specimens examined, 

 this distinction was perceptible. To this may be added that the base 

 or large end will at once determine the doubt, the ground-color in this 

 species being uniform throughout, whilst, in the former's, the base has 

 a wash of yellowish pink spread uniformly over it, and imperceptibly 

 fading into the general color. No eggs were found unmarked in this 

 respect, and, as a rule, it was found remarkably distinct. 



3. Markings. — In this species, the markings are spots Of reddish brown 

 or burnt-uinber, with scattering ones of a faint shade like lavender; 

 whilst at the larger end occur decided sepias. The blotches are irreg- 

 ular in shape, but generally rounded, some eggs having nearly or 

 quite all of their spots elliptical. They are scattered irregularly over 

 the surface, occurring everywhere, being frequently upon the small end, 

 and of as large a size and the same intensity as elsewhere. Remember- 

 ing that the grouping in caroUnensis is entirely or almost wholly upon 



