North American Birds Eggs. 



217 



454. Ash-throated Flycatcher. Myiarchu^ ci iirraHccnii. 



Range.— North America, west of the Plains and south of 

 Canada. 



Similar to the Oth(;rs of the genus but grayish brown above 

 and with the underparts much paler, the throat and breast be- 

 iiig nearly white. Like theothers they nest in cavities in trees, 

 either natural or ones made by Woodpeckers. Their four to 

 five eggs are lighter in color than those of rriiiifiix but cannot 

 be distinguished from those of the Mexican Crested Flycatcher. 



454a. Nutting Flycatcher. Mijiarr/nix rincrasceiiii ii iiffiiifji. 



Range. — Southern Arizona and southward. 



This smaller sub-species nests in the giant cacti which ab(jund in certain 

 of southern Arizona; its eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the 

 throated Flycatcher. 



parts 

 Ash- 



454b. Lower California Flycatcher. Mijiarrhus i-'nicru^crii^ iiirthiirx. 



Range. — Lower (.California. 



This sub-species is similar to Xutting Flycatcher but paler Ijelow and grayer 

 above. 



[455]. Lawrence Flycatcher. Mijiarclius lawrcitcci. 



^ Range. —Eastern Mexico. Admitted to our list on the authority of (iiraud as 



having occured in southern Texas. 



This bird is similar to its sub-species which occurs in southern Arizona, but 

 slightly darker. Its eggs are the same as those of the next to l)e described. 



455a. Olivaceous Flycatcher. Mijiarrhiof lawrciirei (divascciif:. 

 Range.— Western Mexico, north to southern Arizona. 



This is the smallest of the genus found in theT'nited States, (' 

 being but 7 inches in length. Except for size it is similar to '^ 

 criiiitiin but with very little, if any, rusty brown on tail, except 

 for a slight edging on the outer web. Their nesting sites are 

 the same as those chosen by the other Crested Flycatchers, but 

 their eggs appear to have but little of the scratchy appearance 

 of the other members. They are pale buffy, speckled and 

 spotted with brown and lilac; size .80 x .60. Data.— Toluea, 



Mexico, May 20, 1895. Nest of brown hair and feathers, in hole in tree in woods. 



Collector, Fred T. Francis. 



456. Phoebe. Sayoruis phtebc. 



Range.— North America, east of the Rockies and north to Nova Scotia. 



These very common, grayish colored birds are very often known 

 as "Bridge Birds" because of the frequency with which they con- . 



struct their nests under bridges and arches; they also build in J 



crevices in ledges or among the hanging roots near the tops of 

 embankments, and on the rafters or beams of old buildings. The 

 nests are made ofmud, moss and grass, lined with feathers. The r,,.,,,-.,. , 

 four or five white eggs measure .75 x .55. Occasionally, eggs will ^ ■' 



be found that have a few minute spots of reddish brown. Freak situations in 

 which to locate their nests are often chosen by these birds, such as the lirake 

 beam of a freight car, in the crevices of old wells, hen houses, etc. The birds are 

 one of the most useful that we have; being very active and continually on the 

 alert for insects and beetles that constitute their whole bill of fare. 



