260 BIRDS 



YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER 



The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher breeds from Massachu- 

 setts to Labrador, and winters in Central America. 



The Empiconaces, or gnat-kings (as the Greek name 

 signifies), as a group offer peculiar difficulties to the bird 

 student. Although separated into many species, the dis- 

 tinctions are so fine and the birds in the hand really look so 

 much alike that their identification is often involved in doubt 

 and confusion. 



"The keys to an acquaintance with the four species of 

 * gnat-kings ' which occur in the East are to be found in the 

 characteristic notes or haunts of each. The species under 

 consideration is the least known of the four. It is found in 

 central United States only during migrations, when it is 

 very quiet and very secretive. Dr. Wheaton says of its hab- 

 its : * It is seldom found perched near the extremity of limbs 

 watching for or capturing flying insects, but it is generally 

 seen in the midst of a low thicket or fence row, and at the 

 first intimation that it is an object of observation seeks fur- 

 ther concealment by hiding near the ground and remaining 

 motionless. None of the family are such adepts at conceal- 

 ment, its habits in this respect resembling those of the 

 Connecticut and mourning warblers.' 



"The ordinary note of this bird is described as *an 

 abrupt pse-ek, almost in one explosive syllable,' in which 

 case it cannot be so unlike the familiar ' cle-otip ' note of the 

 Acadian flycatcher. It has, however, a more distinctive call 

 — * a soft, mournful \vhistle consisting of two notes, the sec- 



