NORTH AMERICAN BIRDli. 309' 



small tree in swampy woods, bordering a small stream. Two nests of this bird were 

 taken at Fort Fairfield, Maine, by Mr. Charles F. Batchelder. One found June 14 

 was in wet mixed woods of spruces, arbor vltaes and hemlocks; it was on the edge 

 of a bank of a small brook, in a decayed tree trunk, and partly sunk in the sur- 

 rounding moss. This nest contained four eggs. The second nest, which also con- 

 tained • ur eggs, taken June 27, was deeply sunk in the soft, green moss on the 

 side of the stump of a fallen tree.* Mr. Frederick B. Spauldirig records the finding 

 of a nest similar to those described, near Lancaster, New Hampshire, June 14, 1886.t 

 Mr. Spaulding's nest contained five fresh eggs. The eggs are usually four in number, 

 buffy or creamy-white, speckled and spotted, chiefly around the larger end with 

 rusty-brown or cinnamon. The average size is .70x.50. The measurements of Mr. 

 Batchelder's two sets are as follows: .68x.52, .68x.52, .66x.51, .66x.51; .70x.54; .67x.54, 

 .67X.53, .67X.51. 



464. WESTEBN FLYCATCHER. jUmpidonax difflcilis Baird. Geog. DIst. — 

 Western United States, from the edge of the Great Plains to the Pacific; north to 

 Sitka, south in winter to Western Mexico. 



The Western Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is an abundant species throughout its 

 United States range. Its general habits, nesting and eggs are similar to those of 

 flaviventris. Mr. Walter E. Bryant mentions a nest of this species found by Mr. A. M. 

 IngersoU, which was built at the bottom of a hole five inches deep, made by a Red- 

 shafted Flicker in a live oak. Mr. Emerson states that in California this bird nests 

 in hollows in banks and along creeks, in natural cavities of trees and. among the 

 roots of fallen ones, and in some of the most out-of-the-way places; in ta-U Austral- 

 ian gum trees and in corners of rail fences. Nest composed of shreds of roots, dead 

 leaves, cobwebs, bits of fine grass, and lined with finer grasses and a few feathers. 

 A set of four eggs Is in my collection, taken by Mr. IngersoU, May 2, 1886. The nest 

 was placed on rocks four feet from running water. These specimens measure as fol- 

 lows: .64X.50, .67X.53, .63x.49, .64x.50. The eggs are creamy-white, spotted and 

 finely speckled with cinnamon or reddish-brown, in some quite thickly about the 

 larger end, often forming a complete ring, again well sprinkled over the entire sur- 

 face; three or four, sometimes five in number; average size .69x.51. 



464. 1. ST. IiXJCAS ELYCATCHBB. Empidonaa: cineritius Brewst. Geog. 

 Dist. — Lower California. 



This comparatively new species or extreme Southern variety of the Yellow- 

 bellied Flycatcher, was first described by Mr. William Brewster from a specimen 

 taken by Mr. M. Abbot Frazar at La Laguna, Lower California. I believe nothing 

 has been published concerning its nests and eggs. 



465. GBEEN-CBESTED FLTCATCHEB. Empidonax virescens (Vieill.) 

 Geog. Dist. — Eastern United States, north to Southern New York and Southern. 

 Michigan, west to the Plains, south to Cuba and Costa Rica; rare or casual in New 

 England. 



A common bird in the woodlands of Eastern United States. Breeds more or less 

 abundantly in nearly all the Mississippi Valley region, even as far south as Eastern 

 Texas, Southern Louisiana and Alabama. Colonel Goss gives it as not uncommon 



• For a detailed account of these nests and eggs, see Bull. Nutt. Ornlth. Club, Vol, 

 III, pp. 166-168-187-188; Vol. IV, pp. 240-242. 



t Ornithologist and Oologlst, XII, pp. 133-134. 



