248 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



soft, green moss on the side of the stump of a fallen tree.* Mr. Fred- 

 erick B. Spaulding records the finding of a nest similar to those de- 

 scribed, near Lancaster, New Hampshire, June 14, i886.t Mr. Spauld- 

 ing's nest contained five fresh eggs. The eggs are usually four in 

 number, buffy or creamy-white, speckled and spotted, chiefly around 

 the larger end with rusty-brown or cinnamon. The average size is 

 .70 X . 50. The measurements of Mr. Batchelder's two sets are as fol- 

 lows : .68 X .52, .68 x .52, .66 x .51, .66 x .51 ; .70 x .54 ; .67 x .54, .67 x . 53, 



.67X.51. 



464 Empidonax difficilis Baird [323.] 



Western Flycatcher, t 



Hab. Western United States, from the edge of the Great Plains to the Pacific; north to Sitka, south 

 in winter to Western Mexico. 



The Western Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is an abundant species 

 throughout its United States range. Its general habits, nesting and 

 eggs are similar to those of flaviventris. Mr. Walter E. Bryant men- 

 tions a nest of this species found by Mr. A. M. IngersoU, which was 

 built at the bottom of a hole five inches deep, made by a Red-shafted 

 Flicker in a live oak. Mr. Emerson states that in California this bird 

 nests in hollows in banks and along creeks, in natural cavities of trees 

 and among the roots of fallen ones, and in some of the most out-of-the- 

 way places ; in tall Australian gum trees and in corners of rail fences. 

 Nest composed of shreds of roots, dead leaves, cobwebs, bits of fine 

 grass, and lined with finer grasses and a few feathers. 



A set of four eggs is in my collection, taken by Mr. IngersoU, May 2, 

 1886. The nest was placed on rocks four feet from running water. 

 These specimens measure as follows : .64 x .50, .67 x .53, .63 x .49, 

 .64 x .50. The eggs are creamy-white, spotted and finely speckled with 

 cinnamon or reddish-brown, in some quite thickly about the larger end, 

 often forming a complete ring, again well sprinkled over the entire sur- 

 face; three or four, sometimes five in number; average size .69X.51. 



465. Empidonax acadicus (Gmel.) [324.] 



Acadian Flycatcher. 



Hab. Eastern United States, south in winter through Eastern Mexico and Central America. 



A common bird in the woodlands of Eastern United States, where 

 it is also known as the Small Green-crested Flycatcher. Breeds more 

 or less abundantly in nearly all the Mississippi Valley region, even as 

 far south as Eastern Texas, Southern Louisiana and Alabama. Col. 

 Goss gives it as not uncommon in Eastern Kansas, where it arrives the 



■;= For a detailed account of these nests and eggs, see Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. Ill, pp. 166-168- 

 187-188; Vol. IV, pp. 240-242. 



t Ornithologist and Oologist, XII, pp. 133-134. 

 \ Baird's Flycatcher in the A. O. U. Check List. 



