280 LIFE HISTOEIES OF NOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The largest egg of the series measures 21.59 by 15.49 millimetres, or 0.85 by 

 0.61 inch; the smallest, 18.03 by 13.97 millimetres, or 0.71 by 0.55 inch. 



The type specimen. No. 20553 (PL 1, Fig. 29), from a set of four eggs, Ben- 

 dire collection, taken by the writer at Fort Lapwai, Idaho, April 24, 1871, is an 

 average-sized egg, and one of the usual unspotted types. 



104. Sayornis nigricans (Swainson). 



BLACK PHGEBE. 



Tyrannula nigricans SwAiNSON, Philosophical Magazine, I, May, 1827, 367. 

 Sayornis nigricans Bonapaetk, Collection Delattre, 1854, 87. 



(B"131, C 251, R 317, C 378, U 458.) 



Geographical kange : From Mexico and Lower California north through western 

 Texas, lifew Mexico. Arizona, and California into southwestern Oregon, west of th(>, Cascade 

 Mountains; east to western Texas, southern llfew Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. 

 Casually to Washington. 



The breeding range of the Black Phoebe, also known as the "Black Fly- 

 catcher," is much more restricted within the United States than that of the two 

 preceding species, but in Mexico it has a widely extended distribution. In 

 southwestern Oregon it has been observed in the Umpqua Valley by Dr. J. S. 

 Newberry ; and Prof 0. B. Johnson reports seeing a single specimen near Salem 

 in July, 1879. These points mark about the northwestern limits of its range, and 

 none have as yet been observed east of the Cascade Mountains at points farther 

 south in this State. Its center of abundance is evidently that part of California 

 west of the Sierra Nevadas, where it has been recorded from many places 

 throughout the year. Mr. Lyman Belding reports it as a common and constant 

 resident at Stockton, Murphys, and Marysville, and as a summer resident near 

 Big Trees, Calaveras County, where it frequents the willows near sti-eams. Mr. 

 Charles H. Townsend found it breeding near Baird, Shasta County, and it seems 

 to be pretty generally distributed throughout southern California as well. While 

 apparently not reaching the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevadas in the northern 

 parts of this State, it has been observed as far east as Furnace Creek, Death 

 Valley, Hot Springs, in the Panamint Valley, and Shepherd Canyon, in the Argus 

 Range, in southeastern California, by different members of Dr. C. Hart Merriam's 

 exploring party in the Death Valley country, in the spring of 1891; but it 

 appears to be somewhat rare everywhere east of the Sierra Nevadas. 



Mr. A. W. Anthony writes me: "The Black Phoebe breeds throughout 

 Lower California, from latitude 28° northward wherever water is found, build- 

 ing under the eaves of adobe houses when near human habitations, and on the 

 sides of ledges along streams in the unsettled parts." 



In southern Arizona this species is resident throughout the year, and I 

 have observed it at all seasons. It is, however, more common in winter than in 

 summer, the majority of these birds evidently retiring to the -canyons in the 

 foothills of the mountains to breed. I found but a single nest; this was placed 



