FLYCATCHERS 



(471) Pyrocephalus rubinus 

 mexicanus Sclater 



(Gr., fire head; Lat., ruby-red). 



VERMILION FLYCATCHER. 

 A remarkably colored species ha\'ing 

 a well developed, flat crest. Se.'ies 

 very dissimilar, the J being shown 

 in the foreground and the 9 at the 

 left. The 9 is always more or less 

 washed with reddish on the belly 

 and crissum. L., 6.oo; W., 3.25; T., 

 2.50. Nest — Of fibres and lichens; 

 saddled on horizontal limbs. 



Range — Our southwestern border, 

 from southern Te.x. to Cal. 

 (472) Camptostoma imberbe 

 Sclater 



BEARDLESS FLYCATCHER. 

 Rictal bristles very tiny. Dull olive- 

 gray above and gray below. L., 4.50. 



Range — Southern Tex. and Ariz. 



LEAST FLYCATCHERS or CHEBECS are very abun- 

 dant and very well known since, like Phoebes, they like to 

 live about habitations in the country and even on the out- 

 skirts of large cities. They are quite noisy during spring 

 and summer, their note being a rather gruff and emphatic 

 "che-bec," punctuated with a violent jerk of the head and 

 tail at each utterance. Their lookout perches are usually 

 on the very tops of orchard or shade trees, from which points 

 of vantage they can make excursions in any direction in 

 pursuit of insect quarry. Hour after hour they will perch in 

 such places, every few seconds calling out their brusk chal- 

 lenge. The male is an interesting little cavalier, not allow- 

 ing any others of his own species to trespass on his preserves 

 and driving away inquisitive jays or squirrels; he is at peace 

 with most of the smaller birds, although occasionally having 

 a tilt with a Redstart. 



Their nests are well formed of plant fibres and firmly 

 attached in upright forks, often low enough to be reached 

 from the ground. The eggs are plain creamy-white. 



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