THE FORK TAILED FLYCATCIIER. 233 



eggs are ovate, and they measure 0.88 by ().6(;, 0.88 by 0.ri5, and 0.89 hj 0.63 

 inch" (equal to 22.35 by 16.76, 22.35 by 16.51 , and 22.61 by 16 miUimetresy 



There are no eggs of this species in the United States National Museum 

 collection, and I have Ixu^n unable to obtain a fully identified specimen for 

 illustration. 



86. Milvulus forficatus (Gmelin). 



SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER. 



Muscicapa forficata Gmelin, Systema Naturae I, i, 1788, 931. 

 Milvulus forficatus Swainson, Classification of Birds, II, 1827, 225. 



(B 133, C 241, E 301, 3G7, U 443.) 



Geographical range : Frotii Nicaragua, Central America, north througli eastern 

 Mexico and in the United States, regularly through Texas and the Indian Territory to 

 southern Kansas. Occasional in southwestern Missouri, western Arkansas, and Louisiana. 

 Accidental in Florida, Virginia, Illinois, New Jersey, the New England States, Manitoba, 

 and even north to York Factory, Hudson Bay, and the Mackenzie River Valley, Northwest 

 Territory, Dominion of Canada. 



The Scissor- tailed, also known as "Swallow-tailed," Flycatcher, and more 

 frequently as the "Texan Bird of Paradise," is a common summer resident 

 throughout the greater portion of Texas and the Indian Territory, and extends 

 its breeding range northward into southern Kansas. It usuall}i anives in the 

 southwestern portions of Texas about the middle of March, and returns to its 

 winter homes in Central America in October. Mr. W. E. Grover, of Galveston, 

 Texas, informs me that some of these birds remain in that vicinity throughout 

 the year, moving about from place to place in small of flocks from five to six, 

 and occasionally as many as a dozen may be seen together. Its breeding 

 range is coincident with its distribution in the United States. 



The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is the most graceful and attractive species of 

 this family found within our borders, and is certain to be noticed by everyone 

 wherever it occurs. Its long outer tail feathers, which it can open and close 

 at will, and its pinkish flanks make it a conspicuous object among the Texan 

 birds. In all of its movements on the wing it is extremely graceful and pleas- 

 ing to the eye, especially when fluttering slowly from tree to tree on the rather 

 open prairie, uttering its twittering notes, which sound like the syllables "psee- 

 psee" frequently repeated, and which resemble those of the Kingbird, but are 

 neither as loud nor as shrill; again, when, chasing each other in play or anger, 

 in swift flight from tree to tree, when it utters a harsh note like " thish-thish." 

 It is essentially a bird of the more open country, and shuns extensive timbered 

 tracts, although it is frequently observed on the outskirts of these. It rarely 

 lights on the ground, and its long tail makes it then appear rather awkward in 

 its movements. Although included among the Tyrant Flycatchers, it is rather 

 amiable and social in disposition; and after the birds are once mated several 



'The Auk, Vol. IX, 1892, pp. 251 and 322. 



