THE OSPREY. 79 



THE PORTO RICAN PEWEE (BLACICUS BLAXCOI). 

 By B. S. BowDiSH. 



This bird is coaimon in suitable localities in the western half of Porto 

 Rico, but 1 did not observe it in Vieques nor in the vicinity of San Juan. 

 About Mayaguez however it is fairly abundant, and once carefully observed 

 is readily diti'erentiated from the larger Myiarchus antiUarutn, even aiuon"- 

 the trees. 



Its. habits generally seem much like those of other flycatchers, and one is 

 particularly reminded of Empidonax vlreseens. 



The note is entirely unlike that of Myiarchus, ditiers from the note of 

 B. carihaeus of Cuba, and is more like the "purring'' note sometimes uttered 

 by Contopus virens. It is a single prolonged note, once heard not to be con- 

 founded with that of any other bird I know. In general with most of the 

 birds of this family the bird perches on some convenient twig, usually at an 

 average height of fifteen or twenty feet, though not rarely in the tree tops, 

 and from there launches forth on such prey as may appear, often returning 

 to the same perch though less regular in this than many of the family. Some- 

 times it takes its prey in short straight-away dipping or rising flights instead 

 of loops and continuing these flights in a given direction is soon far from its 

 original hunting ground. 



The coflfee plantations are favorite resorts of this bird. It is also found 

 on the hill-sides where a tangle of vine and second growth is studded here and 

 there with the few remaining large trees. 



The food though sometimes composed of wasps, small flies, etc., seems to 

 be more largely made up of beetles, and a Bmall steel-blue species about one- 

 sixteenth of an inch in length appeared to be a favorite, judging from the 

 number found in stomachs examined. 



During the months of July and August, particularly the latter, the birds 

 are moulting and in very poor plumage. 



Like others of their family they are not at all shy and are usually readily 

 approached and observed. 



June 27th, 1901, I found a deserted nest which could hardly have be- 

 longed to any other species. It was situated in the tips of a crotch of a tree 

 growing on a hillside in a cofiee plantation, and was fifteen feet from the 

 ground. It was built of fine, hair-like roots, green stringy moss, and two 

 white flower petals, and was so frail and thin it could be seen through from 

 below. It measured 3^ x 2 inches in diameter and 2 x IJ inches in depth. 

 It contained one addled egg which measured 0.75 x 0.56 inches, light creamy 

 ground dotted sparingly, chiefly about the large end with specks and dots of 

 cinnamon and burnt umber and much resembled specimens of Empidonax 

 virescmis. 



