The Western Flycatcher 
placed on the south wall of a northern lake. The floor of an old Cliff 
Swallow’s nest, placed in a shady niche at a height of some twelve feet, 
formed the support of Pewee’s accumulations. The cliff was perfectly 
straight, but by dint of half an hour’s work piling lava blocks and securing 
footholds, with the aid of a double-bladed paddle he succeeded in reaching 
the nest. Requiring the use of both hands in descent, he placed the four 
fresh eggs in his hat, and the hat in his teeth, reaching the ground safely 
and depositing the hat carefully. Tired out by the exertion he flung 
himself down on the narrow strip of shore and rested. Then noting the 
rising wind, he sprang up, seized coat and hat and—Oh! did something 
drop?!! Yes, gentle reader, the eggs were in it,—but only one was 
smashed. Only one! As perfect the arch without its keystone as a 
“set” of eggs with the guilty consciousness of one missing! 
The experience of a companion, Mr. D. E. Brown, on the same lava 
wall was even more agitating. Noting some fresh-looking straws pro¬ 
jecting from a vapor hole about twelve feet up, he surmised Say’s. He 
climbed up the practically perpendicular wall with such difficulty that he 
was minded to explore the cranny above with his upstretched hand. 
His good angel, however, counseled examination by eye and the bird- 
nester drew himself up so that he could command a full view of the nest 
—and of a rattlesnake coiled at nine inches. The reptile had just dined 
upon the contents of the nest and was prepared to vindicate his course 
of action. Fearing to move a muscle visibly lest the snake strike upon 
the instant, Brown coolly reached his unseen hand for his revolver, 
brought it up and dropped upon the moment of the explosion. The 
rattler was in the act of striking, for he leaped clear of the hole as Brown 
fell, and that although he had five bullet holes in his writhing carcass. 
No. 172 
Western Flycatcher 
A. O. U. No. 464. Empidonax difficilis difficilis Baird. 
Synonym.— Western Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. 
Description. — Adults: Above and on sides of breast olive or brownish olive 
(nearest olive citrine); a lighter shade of same color continued across breast; remaining 
underparts light yellow (between baryta yellow or barium yellow and primrose); 
sordid on throat and sides, clearest on belly; bend of wing pale yellow; a faint yellowish 
eye-ring; axillaries and lining of wings paler yellow; middle coverts and tips of greater 
coverts, continuous with edging of exposed secondaries, yellowish gray, forming two 
more or less conspicuous wing-bars. Bill brownish black above, yellow below; feet 
c?7c? 
