336 SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER. 



all directions. The chattering notes are tittered when flying as well as when perched on 

 some projecting dry branch. They are higher in pitch as the Kingbird's, and though 

 not harmonious, they are not at all unpleasant. Such was my first acquaintance with 

 the Scissor-tajled Flycatcher. 



This strange and beautiful bird is a great charm of the landscape wherever it 

 occurs. This holds true especially of the small mesquit prairies alternating with j)Ost 

 oak woods and of the cultivated lands where isolated ti'ces are found promiscuously. 

 In such localities it is an abundant inhabitant. I do not know another bird that 

 imbues its haunts with such peculiar chann as the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Owing to 

 its beautj', liveliness, elegance, and confidence in man it is one of the familiar birds of 

 Texas and an especial favorite with the counti-y jjeople. 



This Flycatcher likes to associate with members of its own si^ecies, and where- 

 ever one pair has chosen its haunts we may be sure to find others in the vicinity. 

 Although the males are rather pugnacious on their arrival from the South, Jind fire often 

 seen chasing each other, they all live in good neighborly peace when they have paired. 

 They never attack each other like many other birds do. Frequently we see two or 

 three and four males chasing each other through the air, but this is done in a rather 

 playful manner, the birds exhibiting at such times their greatest elegance and graceful- 

 ness. When descending they execute this performance very rapidly and in a perpendicular 

 flight. Having almost reached the ground, they often circle around in wild flight. 

 Sometimes they flj- one above the other, and then again side by side, iintil alighting 

 on dry cotton stalks or on the top of some isolated tree. While resting, the long 

 tail-feathers, Avhich plaj' such an impoi'tant and striking part in the life of this bird, 

 are constanth' in motion. At the same time the bird often cleans the feathers with its 

 bill, especially under the wings, or it is on the alert for insects which are invariably 

 captured Avliile flying. Constantly the positions are changed, for the bird rarely sits 

 long on one place, like its relative, the Kingbird, and it seldom returns to its old perch. 

 We may observe the happy bird for hours as it plaj's in the air, or cii-cles around near 

 the ground, or rests and preens its feathers. I never Ijccame tired of the ever graceful, 

 ever elegant and beautiful, and ever happy and playful Flycatcher, though I have often 

 observed it for hours. 



On the ground the motions of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher are very awkward and 

 slow, and it onlj' ventures to alight on it when collecting nesting material. T never 

 saw it drink or taking a bath, although I always placed a trough with water in my 

 garden during the warm and dry summer months, so that the birds could quench their 

 tliirst. Most of the fejithered garden inhabitants, and also those of the adjoining wood- 

 lands, came to drink and they also took their bath, but never the Scissor-tailed Fly- 

 catcher. Though an expert flyer, it avoids, if possible, to ci-oss large treeless tracts. 

 Evidently its flight is heavy and not very rapid when proceeding in a straight line. In 

 the branches of trees it is not at home, extensive Avoods and thickets also being 

 avoided. It preferably perches on dry cotton stalks, fence and telegraph posts, and on 

 di-y branches or in the lops of small trees. 



About four weeks after their arrival the birds begin to build their nests. Near 

 Houston (Tex.) I found it in the exterior branches of hve-oaks and on isolated trees on 



