386 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



few inches to about two feet above the ground, and generally within 

 sight from a footpath on the mountain. Observed here from May 

 24th to July 30th. I think this species migrates south in the month 

 of August as I never met with it in the autumn. (Wmtle.) 



To build its nest, this bird first covers the stems of shrubs, rasp- 

 berry bushes, and especially alders with long plant-down. Then 

 grass, fibres of bark or reeds are tied inside of the stems with the 

 plant-down, instead of being twisted around them. Then the nest 

 is lined with thin grass and sometimes with hairs or hair-like roots. 

 External diameter 3 or 3.50 inches and height variable from 2 to 

 3 . 50 inches. Inside diameter 2 inches by i . 25 or i . 50 inches in 

 depth. The elevation of the nest from the ground is from one to 

 six feet. Between Ottawa and Lake Nominingue three or four eggs 

 are laid in June and July. (A. L. Garneau.) 



467. Least Plyeatclier. 



Empidonax minimus Baird. 1858. 



Audubon, Vol. I., p. 237, found it nesting in Labrador ; obtained 

 by Drexel at Moose Factory, James bay, August, 1 860. {Packard.) 

 A rare summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Common 

 along Moose river to James bay at Moose Factory, June, 1896. 

 (Spreadborough.) A common summer migrant in Nova Scotia. 

 (Downs.) A common summer resident; equally common in remote 

 woods or in orchards and gardens. (H. F. Tufts.) Not uncom- 

 mon at Baddeck, Cape Breton island. (F. H. Allen.) Union Road, 

 Prince Edward island, July 21st, 1888. (Macoun.) A cheerful 

 series of "che-bies" greeted me one morning at Souris, P.E.I. ; no 

 others were seen. (Dwight.) A rare summer resident near St. 

 John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Common summer resident at Scotch 

 Lake, York co., N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Common in the Resti- 

 gouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Taken at Godbout river; 

 a rather rare summer migrant at Quebec. (Dionne.) A scarce 

 summer resident in the Montreal district; breeds on the island of 

 Montreal. (Wintle.) A common summer resident in the Ottawa 

 district. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common migrant at Toronto, 

 Ont. The most abundant of the small flycatchers in the Muskoka 

 and- Parry Sound districts. (/. H. Fleming.) More common in the 



