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in other habitats the surroundings are usually a good guide to identification. The call- 

 notes, however, make recognition easy. Traill's are "Ee-zee-e-wp" with stress on the second 

 syllable and the Least utters quickly an explosive "Che-bed' that is sometimes repeated 

 several times. 



Nesting. In a crotch of small growth near the ground; in nest of coarse grasses, 

 plant-down, and fibres lined with grasses. 



Distribution. Traill's Flycatcher as a species inhabits nearly all North America. 

 The eastern subspecies, the Alder Flycatcher, is found from the east coast of Canada 

 west to just across the mountains. 



SUBSPECIES. Two subspecies of Traill's Flycatcher occur in Canada. The 

 eastern form, the Alder Flycatcher E. t. alnorum, is the only one that occurs within the 

 area under consideration. The Western Alder Flycatcher E. t. trailli is a more southern 

 and western form. 



Economic Status. Similar to that of the other Flycatchers. Its food 

 is almost entirely insects, the species destroyed being mostly those fre- 

 quenting waste land. 



467. Least Flycatcher, chebec. fr. — le petit motjcherolle. Empidonax 

 minimus. L, 5-41. The smallest of our Flycatchers. In general coloration of the 

 Phoebe-like Flycatcher type and almost indistinguishable from the Acadian and Traill's. 



Distinctions. Browner on back and without the distinct green suggestion of the 

 Acadian, but almost identical in colour with Traill's, from which it can sometimes be 

 separated only by size. Its habitat in woodland localities instead of shrubby wastes offers 

 a suggestion as to its identity and its call-note is different from that of any other species. 

 This is a quick explosive "Che-bec," sometimes repeated several times, with a not distant 

 resemblance to a series of hacking coughs. 



Nesting. Usually in a crotch 15 to 30 feet from the ground; in nest of plant-down, 

 fine wood fibres, rootlets, and long hairs. 



Distribution. Throughout Canada west to the mountains and north beyond cul- 

 tivation. Breeds in Canada wherever found. 



This is a bird of the orchard and the trees about the house, overgrown 

 fence-lines, and other familiar localities where close proximity to cultiva- 

 tion makes its services of noteworthy benefit. 



Economic Status. The food of the Least Flycatcher does not differ 

 materially from that of the other members of the family, but its familiarity 

 and confidence bring it close to man where its useful qualities have the 

 maximum influence. 



SUBORDER— OSCINES. SONG BIRDS. 



The suborder Oscines is a large division of birds, placed at the head of 

 the list as exhibiting the highest development of the class Aves. It includes 

 a great number of families and species, the exact relationships of many of 

 which have never been satisfactorily defined. According to present American 

 usage the suborder begins with the Larks and ends with the Thrushes 

 which are regarded as constituting the most highly developed family. 

 The characters differentiating the Oscines from the Clamatores are technical 

 and anatomical and beyond the scope of a popular consideration of the 

 subject-. As might be gathered by the name the high development of the 

 vocal organs and muscles attached is an important point in the classifica- 

 tion. The members are more easily recognized from family descriptions 

 than under this more general heading. 



