YELLOW-BELLIED ILTCATCHER. 381 



that they are better adapted for hopping from branch to branch by their 

 tarsus, which is longer proportionally than in other members of the genus. 



Another peculiarity of this species is its note, which is as much entitled 

 to the name of song as that of most of the Warblers and many other 

 Oecines. On two occassions I have heard peculiar, uninterrupted, soft 

 whistling notes, from the top of a tree, so different from those of any bird 

 with which I was acquainted, that the birds where shot for identification, 

 and proved to be of the present species. Other observers have notice this 

 song, which it appears is rarely heard during the migration. Its ordi- 

 nary note is described as a weak pu, but I have sometimes heard them 

 utter a soft p-teah, at others a low but sharp pe-wit. 



That the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher may possibly breed in this state is 

 a supposition warranted by the appearance of the young in August. 

 Comparatively little is known in regard to its breeding habits, in fact, 

 until within a couple of years no perfectly satisfactory identification of 

 the nest and eggs had been made. Mr. H. A. Purdie (Bull. Nutt. Orn. 

 Club, iii, 1878, 167) thus describes a nest taken in Maine, and others 

 have since been, discovered placed on the ground : 



' ' On a collecting trip made by Mr. Ruth ven Deane and myself to Houlton, Aroostook 

 county, Me., during the second and third weeks in June of this year, we were fortunate 

 enongh to secure the much- desired nest and eggs of the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. For 

 its possession we are under obligations to Robert R. McLeod, Esq., and to one of his 

 collectors, Mr. James Bradbury, who discovered the nest, both surrendering all claim to 

 the prize, but desirous that a description should be given for the benefit of all inter- 

 ested. 



" Mr. Bradbury informed us that he had found, on June 15, a nest unknown to him with 

 one egg. On the 18th he conducted us to the ed ge of a wooded swamp, and, pointing to 

 the roots of an upturned tree, said the nest was there. We approached cautiously, and 

 soon saw the structure and then the sitting bird, which appeared to be sunken in a ball 

 of green moss. Onr eager eyes were within two feet of her, thus ea»ily identifying the 

 species, when she darted off; but, to make doubly sure, Mr. Deane shot her. There was 

 no mistake ; we at last had a genuine nest and eggs of the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. 

 A large dwelling it was for so small and trim a bird. Built in and on to the black mud 

 clinging to the roots, but two feet from the ground, the bulk of the nest was composed 

 of dry moss, while the outside was faced with beautiful fresh green nu)Bses, thickest 

 around the rim or parapet. The home of the Bridge Pewee (Sayornis fuscus) was that at 

 once suggested. But no mud entered into the actual composition of the nest, though at 

 first we thought so, so much was olingiEg to it when removed. The lining was mainly 

 of fine black rootlets, with a few pine needles and grass-stems. The nest gives the fol- 

 lowing measurements : depth inside, one and one-half inches ; depth ontsid*, four and 

 a quartei inches ; circumference inside, seven and a quarter inches. 



" The eggs, four in number, were perfectly fresh, rounded oval in shape, and of a 'beau- 

 tiful rosy- white tint, well spotted with a light reddish shade of brown." 



