Nests Saddled an Branches 

 I 467. Least Flycatcher: Empidonax minimus Baird 



Adult — Upper parts olive ; under parts pale gray, slightly tinged 

 : :, with y?llo,»iV on thes belly ^ Length— 5. 40- i' 



Breeding Range^-Prom Pennsylvania and, New Jersey northvi^aFd- 



The nest, which is eithyf saddled on a branch or placed in a 

 crotch at from seven to twenty-five feet from the' ground, is a 

 heit Structure of soft plant fibr^e,finbgrasS;' thin strips of bark, 

 and hair ; some nests are biiilt entirely of grass and strips of bark, 

 with no soft materials. The eggs, which number frorri ^ to 4, 

 and very rarely 5, are biiflf or A^ite; Size — .62 x .56. 



These, the smallest of our flycatchers, are fobnd iti atbtind^nCe 

 throughout their range, though their distribution is somewhat 

 local. Apple orchards seem to be their favourite nesting places. 

 1 have found no less than four of these nests in one small orchard 

 containing not more than thirty trees: ' 



The breeding season begins in central New Jersey about the 

 second week in May. .^ 



75 1 . Blue-gray Gnatcatcher : Polioptila cc9rulj9a,(Unn.) 



Adult 3 — Upper parts bluish gray, a black band on the forehead ; 

 tail, middle feathers black, outef one white, the interme- 

 diate feathers shading from dark to light gray. 



Adults- — Lacks the black on the forehead, but is otherwise 

 similar. Length — 4.90.- •.■.•.:. , 



Breeding Range — From the Southern States-nortji ward, on the 



[ coast, to Connecticut; of accidental oojiirrence in Mainej;and 

 inland to the Great Lakes. 



The nest is a delicately built cup-like structure, abdilt one 

 and a half inches deep inside, and is composed of leaf stems, 

 plant fibre, hair, grass, and thin strips of bark. The lining is of 

 woolly plant substances, and the outside is usually decorated 

 with small '{iieces of lichen. It is placed either in a crotch or 

 saddled on a branch at from ten to fifty feet from the ground ; 

 fifteen' or twenty feet is the usuaL height. The eggs, 4 or 5 in 

 number, are very pale green or blue, with numerous specks and 

 spots of chestnut and brown. Size — .57 x .45. 



The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is an energetic, busy little fel- 

 low who lives in the woods, usually preferring 'those thkt are 

 somewhat damp. He commences building during the month 



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