312 LIFE HISTORIES OP NOETH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the whole, they resemble very closely the eggs of the preceding species, as well 

 as those of Empidonax acadicus, but they average a trifle larger. 



The average measurement of fifty eggs in the United States National 

 Museum collection is 18.54 by 13.46 millimetres, or 0.73 by 0.53 inch. The 

 largest egg of the series measures 19.81 by 13.97 millimetres, or 0.78 by 0.55 

 inch; the smallest, 17.27 by 12.70 millimetres, or 0.68 by 0.50 inch. 



The type specimen, No. 24992 (PI. 2, Fig. 30), from a set of three eggs, 

 Ralph collection, was taken by Dr. William L. Ralph, near Wilmurt, Herkimer 

 County, New York, June 22, 1891, and represents about the ordinary style of 

 markings found among the eggs of this subspecies. 



115. Empidonax minimus Baird. 



LEAST FLYCATCHER. 



Tyrannula minima Bated (W. M. & S. F.), Proceedings Academy Natural Sciences, Phil- 

 adelphia, July, 1843, 284. 

 Empidonax minimus Baird, Birds of North America, 1858, 195. 



(B 142, C 258, E 326, C 387, U 467.) 



Geographical range: Eastern Nortli America; north in the eastern parts of the 

 Dominion of Canada to about latitude 49° 30', and in the interior through the Provinces of 

 Manitoba and Saskatchewan to Great Slave Lake and the southern Mackenzie River Yalley, 

 Northwest Territory, to about latitude 63°; west to the eastern slopes of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains; casually to Utah; south in winter through Central America to Panama. 



The breeding range of the Least Flycatcher, also known as the "Che- 

 beck," extends through the northern parts of the eastern United States, from 

 about latitude 40° northward into the Dominion of Canada, through Nova Scotia, 

 Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, the southern portions of 

 the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, to about latitude 49° 30', and thence west- 

 ward through Manitoba and Saskatchewan, in the interior, north to Great Slave 

 Lake and the southern Mackenzie River Valley, Northwest Territory, to about 

 latitude 63° N. 



The western limits of its breeding range in the United States are not yet 

 well defined. It is known, however, to extend to Tom Green County, Texas, 

 where Mr. William Lloyd reports it as a "tolerably common summer visitant; 

 abundant in fall; have shot young; no nests taken." (See "The Auk," Vol. IV, 

 1887, p. 193.) A young bird of the year, taken there on August 15, 1885, and 

 now in the United States National Museum collection, seems to confirm this 

 statement, and another specimen, taken by Dr. H. B. Butcher, on August 3, 1866, 

 near Laredo, Texas, carries its probable breeding range still farther south and 

 west. As far as I am aware, no records of its breeding in Kansas have been 

 recorded, but it is said to nest occasionally in eastern Nebraska. It is known 

 to be a common summer resident in the Dakotas, and I took a single nest and 

 eggs on June 25, 1885, near Fort Custer, Montana; and two skins taken by me 

 near the same place are now in the United States National Museum collection. 



