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series of coarse, defiant screeches is heard, 

 interming-led with chattering- screams, all 

 uttered in the most discordant key. These 

 noises are the love notes of this peculiar 

 bird. 



Not long- after arrival, the birds seek their 

 mates. Observations strong-ly point to the 

 continual alliance of a mated pair, and I think 

 it is but fair to our beautiful birds to say that 

 nearly, if not quite all, of our species are un- 

 doubtedly constant in their choice, and that 

 the alliance continues until one or the other of 

 the pair dies. 



After choice of location for a home is made 

 — nearly always in the immediate vicinity of 

 last year's habitation— the pair beg-ins the 

 construction of a nest. In all exceptions to 

 a rule, it is observed that there are peculiari- 

 ties which are interesting-. The Great-crested 

 Fly-catcher exemplies this oddity to a remark- 

 able deg-ree. 



All fly-catchers in this reg-ion build their 

 nests openly, unless we except the common 

 pewee, which has modified its habit throug-h 

 the influence of man; but the Great-crested 

 Fly-catcher differs from all others by select- 



