3(52 ZOOLOGY— BIRDS. 



EMPIDONAX HAMMONDI, (Xant,). 

 Hammond's Flycatcher. 



Tyrannula hammondi, Xantus, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., May, 185S, 117. 



Empidonax hammondii, Bd., Birds X. A., 1S5S, 199, pi. 70, f. 1. — Xantus, Proc. Acad. 

 Nat. Sci. Phila., 1859, 190 (Fort Tejou, Cal.).— Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. 

 Sci. Phila., 1800, 52 (Fort Whipple, Ariz.). — Coopek, Birds Cal., i, 1870, 

 330.— Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 18713, 179 (Wyoming; Ogdeu, Utah).— 

 Coues, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 176.— Bd., Brew., & Ridg., N. A. Birds, 

 ii, 1874, 383, pi. 44, f. 7.— Yarrow & Henshaw, Hep. Orn. Specs., 1872, 

 Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 22.— Henshaav, An. Lye. Nat, Hist. N. Y., xi, 

 1874, 8.— Id., An. List Birds Utah, 1872, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 47.— 

 Id,, Bep. Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 87, 127. — Coues, Birds 

 Northwest, 1874, 257. 



The affinities of this little bird are certainly with the Least Flycatcher 

 of the East (minimus), and not at all with the bird just mentioned. Of 

 its perfect distinctness from the former bird I feel Avell assured, though 

 I do not find myself able to express in a very cogent manner the differ- 

 ences that certainly do exist between the two birds, — differences in notes 

 and habits, as well as a general dissimilarity in the particular localities 

 affected by either species. In the East, the Least Flycatcher is a bird of 

 the orchards and gardens ; which wanting, it frequents the open country and 

 is found on the edges of the woodland tracts, never, I think, selecting the 

 depths of the forest as its home. In motions, it is one of the quickest and 

 most energetic of the small flycatchers, while its notes are so constant and 

 given with such stress that, in Massachusetts at least, in the spring one is 

 scarcely ever out of the sound of its voice. In the West, Hammond's 

 Flycatcher is one of the most silent and retiring of birds ; leaving the low 

 country entirely in summer, and finding in the glens and recesses of the 

 pine woods of the mountains or the alpine streams with their fringes of 

 alders, its chosen retreats. As I have there noticed them, nearly all of the 

 dash and spirit characterizing this group is wanting, though, of course, the 

 difference is merely one of degree. After snapping up a passing insect, it 

 resumes its perch upon some low limb, and remains nearly motionless for a 

 time, giving an occasional listless jerk of the tail. The notes are very 

 feeble, the must so of any flycatcher I am acquainted with, and consist of a 

 soft pit, varied with a low, lisping whistle. This latter note, which I have 



