343 



FAMILY VII.*— MUSCICAPIN^E. FLYCATCHERS. 

 Genus Il.f— MUSCICAPA, Linn. FLYCATCHER. 



LEAST FLYCATCHER. 



Muscicapa minima, Baird. 

 PLATE CCCCLXLI.— Male. 



A specimen of this little Flycatcher was sent to me along with the one 

 last described, by Mr. Baird, and I have found his description of it so 

 correct that I shall give it below. Mr. Baird says: 



"This species was first observed and procured in May 1839, near Carlisle, 

 Pennsylvania. Since then numbers have been observed and shot on every 

 succeeding spring. Like the preceding, (T. flaviventris,) this bird does not 

 frequent deep forests, but is found among the scattering trees which border 

 our streams. It is rather shyer than T. flaviventris, and does not, like that 

 species, seek dense thickets. It also, most probably, goes further north to 

 breed, as after the last of May it is no longer to be seen. It visits us from 

 the south in the latter part of April, generally making its appearance about a 

 week before T. flaviventris." 



This Flycatcher has a great range through the countries bordering upon 

 the Upper Missouri. Several specimens were procured by some of my 

 companions, and I not unfrequently met with them in my rambles along the 

 sides of small though interesting valleys in the ravines so numerous about the 

 Yellow Stone river and Fort Union. In its habits it resembles the smaller 

 species allied to itself, all of which have been already described. I have no 

 doubt that it breeds in the sections of the country where I saw it, but its 

 nest escaped our utmost endeavours to discover it 



Least Flycatcher, Tyrannula minima, Baird. 



5 inches 2 lines, 8 inches 3 lines. 



* See vol. i. p. 195. t Ibid. p. 198. 



