300 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



cured from observation' on one side by a board nailed to the post and projecting 

 above it. One of the most remarkable instances of persistency in nest building was 

 met with in the case of a pair of R.ngbirds, which had attempted to construct a 

 nest upon the outer end of a windmill fan. A horizontal blade had probably been 

 first selected, but an occasioneil breath of air had slightly turned the mill, bringing 

 into place another and another, upon each of which had been deposited the first 

 material for a nest until several nests were in different stages of construction, vary- 

 ing from the time tha. the windmill had remained quiet, while upon the roof below 

 was strewn a quantity of debris that had fallen as the wheel revolved. Of course, 

 nothing but failure could be expected from their repeated attempts. The eggs are 

 five, sometimes four, in number. A large series before me do not differ essentially 

 from those of T. tyrannus, except that they average smaller; .94x.65. 



448. CASSIIT'S KINGBIKD. Tyrannus voeiferans Swains. Geog. Dist. — 

 Guatemala north through Mexico and Western United States to Idaho and Southern 

 Wyoming, and coast districts of Southern California. 



Cassin's Kingbird greatly resembles T. verticalis in color; is less lively, and not 

 so quarrelsome or pugnacious in its nature. It is a common bird in Southern Cali- 

 fornia, but is nowhere so abundant as the Arkansas Flycatcher. In the Rocky Moun- 

 tain region, according to Dr. Coues, it mostly replaces vexticaKs in the breeding sea- 

 son. A common bird in Arizona. Mr. W. E. D. Scott states that the position of the 

 many nests he examined in the Catalina Mountain region shows a decided preference 

 for the evergreen oaks over other trees. The nest, which is commonly from twenty 

 to twenty-five feet from the ground, is most always placed near the extremity of a. 

 branch, and is hidden by the thick leaves. Six nests and a large series of the eggs 

 of this species before me do not differ essentially from those of T. tyrannits or T. 

 verticalis. 



449. DERBY FLYCATCHER. Pitangus derbianus (Kaup.) Geog. Dist.— 

 Northern South America, Central America, Mexico, north to the Valley of the Rio 

 Grande in Texas. 



A large, spirited-looking Flycatcher of Mexico and southward, lately found on the 

 Lower Rio Grande in Texas. It is said to build its nest chiefly in thorny bushes and 

 trees; the structure is large and dome'-shaped, like a Magpie's nest, with an entrance 

 on one side. It is composed of twigs, coarse straws, dried mosses, lichens, etc. 

 The eggs are from three to five, sometimes six in number; creamy-white, speckled, 

 spotted and blotched, chiefly at the larger end, with umber-brown, ' chestnut and 

 lilac. Average size of ten eggs is 1.20x.80; an average specimen measures 1.16x.75. 

 A set of five eggs in Mr. Crandall's collection, taken May 9, 1895, in Tamaulipaa 

 county, Mexico, measures l.lOx.82, l.lOx.83, 1.07X.87, 1.05x.81, 1.12X.85. Another set 

 measures 1.18x.84, 1.18x.85, 1.19x.87, 1.16x.84, 1.20X.87. 



450. GIRAUD'S PLYCATCHER. Myioaetetes texemis (Giraud.) Geog. Dist.— 

 "Texas" (Giraud), south to Central America and Northern South America. 



This species is admitted to our fauna upon Giraud's record and, if it occurs at all 

 along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas it must be considered a straggler, and it is 

 doubtful if it breeds within our limits. Mr. Crandall has a set of four eggs of this 

 species taken In Tamaulipas county, Mexico, April 30, 1895, by Mr. Frank 

 B. Armstrong. The nest was placed in a bush, in open woods, was bulky 

 and round and composed of grass, hay and moss. The eggs are creamy white. 



