358 TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER. 



branches, but were constructed invariably of the flower catkins of oaks and hickory 

 trees, and fastened to the branches with spider-webs. Some of the catkins always hang 

 down on the sides of the nest in a fringe-like manner. Such a nest is a pretty, but rather 

 shallow and thin structure, so thin that the light can be seen shining through. It is 

 easily distinguished from the thick-walled cup-shaped nest of Traill's Flycatcher, which 

 is always placed in an upright crotch. The nest of the Acadian is always saucer-shaped. 



I have yet to see a nest that was not constructed either of Usnea lichens or of the 

 flower catkins of oaks and hickories. The birds always love to penetrate the shadowy 

 depths of the forest, delighting to sing and to rear their young in the most quiet and 

 gloomy spots. From above the nest is always protected by overhanging branches: The 

 birds rarely betray their domicile, as they are exceedingly cautious while near it, trying 

 to mislead the observer in flying to and fro. Having thus tired their enemy, the female 

 suddenly flies from below directly into the nest. 



Mr. Otto Widmann, to whom I am obliged for a valuable contribution* regarding 

 the small Flycatchers, has studied the life-histories of these birds in and around St. Louis, 

 Mo., with great care. He found the Acadian Flycatcher in the forest only, and there 

 very abundant, — that is to say, one pair to every few acres. The nests which he found 

 were also built of the flower catkins of hickories. 



This species is always a tenant of the forest, where large trees commingle with 

 bushes, smaller trees, tangled thickets of vines, weeds, etc. In these quiet retreats the 

 observer is often startled by the bird's notes, which sound like e-chee-ah. Usually the 

 notes are uttered while the bird is perched in a shady place watching for flying insects, 

 its main food. 



This Flycatcher is distributed in summer from Texas and Florida northward to 

 Long Island and southern Michigan and west to the Plains. In its northern habitat it 

 is rare. In the valley of the Ohio, in southern Illinois, Indiana, and in Missouri this 

 southern species is a common summer resident. 



NAMES: Green-crested Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher. 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Platyrbyncbns vitesccasWieiW. (181S). EMPIDONAX VIRESCENS Brbmhster (1895). 

 Empidoiiax acadicus Baird (1858). 



DESCRIPTION: Above, varying from greenish-gray to olive-green; the top of the head, similar to back; wing- 

 bands, buflF; lower parts, white, more or less strongly tinged with sulphur-yellow laterally and posteri- 

 orly, and shaded across breast with olive or grayish. — Length, about 6.00 inches; wing, 2.83; tail, 2.49. 



TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER. 



Empidonax traillii Baird. 



IJS'RAiLL's Flycatcher is an abundant inhabitant of the Mississippi valley, being 

 especially common in Missouri, southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. It is found 

 noi-thward to the Fur Countries and west to the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Otto Widmann 

 has observed this species foi* many years in St. Louis and vicinity, where it abounds 



* See "Die Nordamcrikanische Vogelwelt." Von H. Nehrling. Die Tier ustlicheQ Empidonan-Arten, Von Otto Wid- 

 mann, p. 553—556. 



