376 THE GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 



Thus assured as to its identity, I examine the nest. Sev- 

 eral firm, dried leaves are hung hammock-like to the 

 branches of a forked stem of the blackberry bush, then a 

 sort of bedding of skeleton-leaves being added, the rather 

 thick wall of the nest is of fine rootlets and dried grasses, 

 closely laid, and the lining is of fine bark-fibers and horse- 

 hair. Another nest in the vicinity is placed in a low bush, 

 and is similarly made, except that it is heavily ornamented 

 with the bud-scales and dried staminate blossoms of the 

 beech, and made hoary with webby material of various 

 kinds; the lining, too, is of fine dried grasses and a large 

 quantity of black horse-hair. The eggs, three or four, some 

 .ISX.SS of an inch, are white, generally more or less trans- 

 lucent, and slightly tinged with blue — said to be sometimes 

 specked — truly beautiful, especially when laid on a thick 

 lining of black horse-hair. These birds are very uneasy and 

 emit a loud and peculiar cAinA when the nest is approached. 

 The species ranks with the Sparrows, and is called, in 

 science, Cyanospiza cyanea. "Habitat, eastern Province of 

 the United States — north to Canada and Maine, west to 

 Kansas and Indian Territory, south through Texas to 

 Mexico and Central America, where it winters. Breeds 

 throughout most of its United States habitat, from Texas to 

 Canada." (Coues.) 



THE GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 



From a group of tall trees, there comes a bird-voice, 

 which I find most imperfectly described in the books, namely, 

 that of the Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus). 

 Its most common note, tweep — though in a loud, spirited, 

 whistling tone, given with a peculiar emphasis, and ab- 

 ruptly closed — is by no means a harsh squeak, as Wilson and 

 Audubon say, but, as a mere note, is decidedly rich and 



