ACADIAN FLYCATCHEB. 373 



ing of all members of the family breeding with us. It is one of our most 

 familiar birds, and, by those whose acquintance with birds is super- 

 ficial, is confounded with the Pewee above described. It is, however, 

 considerably smaller, slenderer, and rather darker. Their notes are much 

 alike, but that of the Common Pewee consists of two syllables quickly 

 and sharply repeated, while the note of the Wood Pewee consists of three 

 syllables, pe-to-wee, less emphatio,mueh slower and softer. These notes 

 are heard at all hours of the day, but especially after sunset, when the 

 bird has regaled himself upon a plentiful supply of crepuscular insects, 

 he delights in their repetion. 



The nest of the Wood Pewee is a beautiful structure, egualed only by 

 that of the Hummingbird and Gnatcatcher, which it resembles. 

 It is placed on a horizontal limb, or on a horizontal fork, frequently 

 quite near the ground. It is composed of fine grass and vegetable fibres 

 with spider's webs and down, and the outside completely covered with 

 bits of grayish lichens which give it a very neat and finished appear- 

 ance, while they assist materially in its concealment. The eggs are 

 four, creamy white, with a ring of lavender and purplish-brown confluent 

 spots near the greater end. They ineasure .78 by .55. 



Genus EMPIDONAX. Cabanis. 



Head slightly crested. Tarsns longer than middle toe and claw, which is deoidediy 

 longer than hind toe. Tail nearly even, a little shorter than the wings ; first primary 

 shorter or not obviously longer than 5th ; 2d, 3d and 4feh forming point of wing. 



Empidonax acadicus (Gm.) Baird. 



Acadian IT'lycatclier. 



Mtisoicapa acadiea, Kirtlasd, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 163. 



Tyrannus acadicus, (in part ?) Read, Fam. Visitor, iii, 1853, 359 ; Proo. Phila. Acad., vi, 

 1853, 395. 



Bmpidonax acadicus, Baird, P. K. R. Rep., ix, 1858, 197. — Kikkpatkick, Ohio Farmer, 

 ix, 1860, 43.— Whbaton, Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1860, 1861, 362, 373 ; Reprint, 4, 15 ; 

 Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1874, 1875, 568; Reprint, 8. — Henshaw, 

 Bull. Nntt. Orn. Club, i, 1876, 14.— Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 10; Revised 

 List, Journ. Cin. Soo. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 177 ; Reprint, 11. — Brewstbk, Bull. Nntt. 

 Orn. Club, iii, 1878, 177, (first plumage). 



Mutcicapa acadiea, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., i, 1788, 947. 



Em^donax acadicus, Baird, Birds N. A., 1858, 197. _, 



Above olive green, clear continuous and uaiform (though the crown may show rather 

 darker, owing to dusky centres of the slightly lengthened, erectile feathers) ; below, 

 whitish, olive shaded on sides and nearly across breast, yellow-washed on belly, flanks, 

 orissnm and axillars ; wings dusky, inner quiUs edged, and coverts tipped with tawny- 

 yellow; all the quills whitish edged internally; tail dusky, olive-glossed, unmarked; 



