1912] Taylor: Birds and Reptiles of Northern Nevada. 375 



Duffer Peak Meadow'(8400 feet), Alder Creek Lake (7800 feet), 

 Alder Creek (7000 feet), Virgin Valley (5000 feet), and 

 Leonard Creek (7500 feet and above). Occurred everywhere 

 in the higher portions of the mountains. 



Habits. — As regards note, song, and habits this flycatcher 

 seemed to be identical with the bird from the San Bernardino 

 Mountains of southern California called E. griseus by Grinnell 

 (1908, p. 78). During the latter part of May several of the 

 birds were observed in the tall sagebrush along "Wheeler Creek 

 near Quinn River Crossing. The first one was seen at this 

 locality May 22; the last June 2. Presumably there occurred a 

 vertical migration about this time or soon thereafter, for none 

 were observed during the last week of our stay at Quinn River 

 Crossing, and only a few were noted at Big Creek Ranch (June 

 9 and 10), while higher in the mountains a few days later they 

 were common. 



One individual seen at Quinn River Crossing was killing a 

 grasshopper by pounding it on a sagebush twig. 



This flycatcher was observed in limber pines on hillsides 

 and high ridges, in quaking aspens along streams, in the moun- 

 tain mahogany on arid ridges and canon slopes, and in brushy 

 plants generally. The bird seemingly prefers bare twigs to 

 those fully leafed out, being very often seen perching on exposed 

 branches. When heard calling from a dense thicket of quaking 

 aspens, for instance, it is generally found to be, not in the 

 thickest part of the foliage, but on a naked twig rather low 

 down in the tangle. 



The evident excitement of a bird seen on June 29 above Alder 

 Creek Lake doubtless indicated the presence of a nest nearby. 

 This individual persisted in remaining in a very circumscribed 

 locality. 



The flycatchers seem by nature curious, and seek to deter- 

 mine the source of a strange sound. Frequently a "squeaking" 

 sound made with the lips would attract one to within a few 

 feet of the observer. As soon as the bird discovered the source 

 of the peculiar note it usually retired in great haste. Ridgway 

 (1877, p. 542) says this flycatcher is confiding and unsuspicious, 

 but in our experience it was shy. 



