218 North American Birds Eggs. 



45 7. Say Phoebe. Sayoriiis saya. 



Range.— Western United States, breeding from southern United States, north 

 to the Arctic regions, and from Kansas and Wisconsin westward. Winters in 

 Mexico. 



This birtl is slightly larger than the last (7.5 inches long), 



and is rusty brown color on the belly and lower breast. Like 



the eastern Phoebes they are one of the earliest birds to return 



in the spring and are abundant in the greater parts of their 



range. Like the latter, they often raise two broods a season, 



one in April and another in July. Their nests are generally 



' ""^■' placed on narrow shelves and crevices of ledges, but they also 



nest as commonly about houses and farms as does the eastern bird. The nests 



are made of weeds, mosses, fibres and wool, and are quite flat. They lay four or 



five white eggs. Size .78 x .58. 



458. Black Phoebe. Sayonds nigricans. 



Range. — Mexico and north in summer into the bordering States. 



This species is of the size of the last but is blackish (dark- ^- 



est on the head and breast), with a white belly and under \ 



tail coverts, the latter streaked with dusky. Their habits and "l 



nesting habits are the same as those of the eastern Phoebe, 

 the}' building their nests of mud, moss, weeds and feathers on 

 ledges or about buildings, and generally close to or in the 

 vicinity of water. They breed during April or May, laying [White.] 



four or five white eggs which cannot be distinguished from those of the common 

 Phoebe. Size .75 x .55. 



458a. Western Black Phoebe. Sayornis nigricans semi/:itra. 



Range— Pacific coast of Mexico and the United States, breeding north to Ore- 

 gon. 



This variety differs from the last in having the under tail coverts pure white. 

 Its nesting habits are precisely the same and the eggs indistinguishable. 



459. Olive-sided Flycatcher. XnttaHornis bnrealis. 



Range.— Whole of North America, breeding from the Middle States and Cali- 

 fornia northward, and in the Rockies, south to Mexico; winters south of the 

 United States. 



These Flycatchers are nowhere abundant, and in some parts 



_ ,^ of the country, especially in the middle portion, they are very 



r»>*^ • rare. They breed very locally and generally not more than 



one pair in any locality. In New England, I have always 



found them nesting in company with Parula Warblers, in 



dead coniferous swamps in which the branches are covered 



with long pendant moss. Their nests are placed high up in 



[Creamy white.) the trees, generally above fifty feet from the ground, and on 



small horizontal limbs; they are made of small twigs and 



rootlets, lined with finer rootlets and moss, and are very flat and shallow; as 



they are generally made to match the surrounding, they are one of the most 



difficult nests to find. They lay three or four cream colored eggs which are 



spotted with reddish brown and lilac, chiefly about the large eml. Size .85 x 



.65. Data. — Lake Quinsigamond, Massachusetts, June IL', 1897. Nest of twigs 



and moss, about 60 feet above the ground, in a dead pine tree in center of a 



large wet swamp. Nest could not be seen from the ground, found by watching 



bird. Collector, C. K. Reed. 



