236 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



covered with lichens. The inside depth was somewhat less than i.oo; 

 the diameter .50; external depth 1.50. No description of the eggs are 

 at hand, but they are doubtless the same as those belonging to other 

 birds of this family. 



440. Basilinna xantusl (Lawr.) [347.J 



Xautns's Hnmmiiig'bird. 



Hab. Lower California. 



This Hummingbird occurs in the southern portion of Lower Cali- 

 fornia. It was first taken at Cape St. Lucas by Mr. Xantus, and de- 

 scribed by Mr. George N. Lawrence in i860. I have no information 

 regarding its specific habits ; they perhaps do not differ essentially 

 from those which characterize other Hummingbirds. 



Prof. Ridgway describes the nest as composed of various soft veg- 

 etable fibres (especially raw cotton, spiders' webs, etc.), and attached to 

 small twigs. Size about 1.50 in diameter by about .80 in height, the 

 cavity about 1.0OX.55-.60. Eggs .47X.31.* 



[442.] Milvulus tyrannus (Linn.) [302.] 



Fork-tailed Flycatcher. 



Hab. Mexico to South America. Accidental in the United States — Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, 

 New Jersey. 



This handsome Flycatcher with a very deeply forked tail is found 

 throughout tropical America. Its tail is about a foot long, and forked 

 as much as six to eight inches. The bird's occurrence in the United 

 States is purely accidental, and only a few specimens have thus far 

 been taken in the regions cited above. Its habits are said not to differ 

 essentially from those of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher of our southern 

 fauna. 



Dr. Brewer describes an egg of this species obtained by Dr. Bal- 

 damus, from Cayenne, as bearing a strong resemblance to the egg of 

 the common Kingbird. It has a clear white ground, and is spotted 

 with deep, bold markings of reddish-brown ; size .90 x .68. 



443. Milvulus forflcatus (Gmel.) [301.] 



Soisaor-tailed Flycatcher* 



Hab. Eastern Mexico and southwestern prairie districts of the United States, north to Indian Terri- 

 tory, Kansas and the southwestern portion of Missouri. Accidental in the Eastern States — Virginia, New 

 Jersey, New England — even as far north as Hudson Biy Territory and Manitoba. 



Known as the Swallow-tailed or Fork-tailed Flycatcher — an ele- 

 gant, graceful bird, common in the southwestern portion- of the United 

 States, from Kansas and southwestern Missouri southward — especially 

 abundant in Texas. Mr. Singley states that in Lee county, Texas, 

 this bird nests in trees varying from six to twenty feet from the 

 ground. He describes a typical nest as built of weeds, small stems 



* Manual N. A. Birds, p. 318. 



