262 BIRDS 



Here, too, in some dim aisle of the forest, from the 

 feathery tip of a branch, a frail cradle is swung. It is a 

 shallow saucer of fine twigs, leaf-stems, or the stalks of some 

 slender vine, made fast by the edges to forking twigs or half 

 supported by them. Usually the materials are loosely inter- 

 woven and bound together by cobwebs. Occasionally the 

 affair is so careless that it merits Dr. Wheaton's comparison, 

 "a tuft of hay caught by the limb from a load driven 

 under it." Into the frail saucer three eggs are commonly 

 placed. Many eggs must be lost each season, for any con- 

 siderable wind would upset them. (Dawson.) 



TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER 



In northern Illinois and Indiana Traill's Flycatcher is 

 common. It is found generally distributed throughout 

 North America, breeding from northern Illinois and north- 

 ern New England to Alaska, and wintering in Central 

 America. Considerable controversy has arisen during the 

 last ten years as to whether the lower part of the Great 

 Lakes region is the home of Traill's flycatcher or a closely 

 allied sub-species called the Alder flycatcher. However, 

 both have the same habits and their difference is hardly dis- 

 tinguishable except to the specialist who might have several 

 specimens of each before him for comparison. Traill's fly- 

 catcher is a rather retiring little bird inhabiting second- 

 growth in wet places, often along streams or on the edges 

 of our small inland lakes. 



How clearly the disposition of our birds is foretold by 

 the position in which they carry their tails! The drooping 



