E. FLAVIVENTRIS : YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. 45 



specimens. It appears to be rather uncommon, is chiefly 

 seen during the migrations, and thus far is only known 

 to breed in Maine. Reaching Connecticut about the 

 middle of May, and to be found there till June, it passes 

 on to its breeding grounds and returns in September. 

 It doubtless withdraws entirely, as a rule, during that 

 month, notwithstanding that specimens have been taken 

 at dates so irregular as November 29 and December i 

 (Bull. Nutt. Club, iii, 1878, p. loi). Mr. C. J. Mayhard 

 has apparently had more experience with the species 

 than most observers have enjoyed. In his catalogue of 

 Massachusetts birds he speaks of taking a dozen from 

 May 31 to June 10, 1869, eight of them in a few hours 

 on June i. "I do not doubt," he says, "that it has oc- 

 curred in previous seasons, but, being unaccustomed to 

 Its low note, — which is like the syllable pea, very plain- 

 tively and prolongedly given, — and its retiring habits, 

 I had not detected it before. The specimens captured 

 were all, — with the exception of the first, which was shot 

 in a tall oak, — taken in low swampy thickets." In 

 another place he adds that he found the bird in dark 

 swamps at Upton, in Maine, where for the first time he 

 heard any other note than the low pea; it was like the 

 syllables killic, very gravely given, with a long interval 

 between each utterance, and much less energetic than 

 the corresponding note of E. trailli. Mr. Purdie endorses 

 the fact that this kil-lic note is not at all like the sound 

 of Traill's voice, but nearer that of the Least Flycatcher. 

 "The pea," he continues, in a letter to the editor, 

 "which I consider to be the song of the species, is 

 given in the style of the Wood Pewee, but is much 

 fainter, and in one syllable instead of two or three, 

 and repeated several times." Although during the 



