445. Gray Kingbird. 
PERCHING BIRDS 
Tyrannus dominicensis. 
Range. — West Indies; north in April to Flor- 
ida and the South Atlantic States to South 
Carolina and casually farther. 
This species is slightly larger than our King- 
bird, (9 inches long), grayish instead of dark 
drab above, white below, and without any 
white tip to tail. Like 
the common Kingbird, it 
has a concealed orange 
patch on the crown. Their 
habits and nesting habits 
are the same as those of 
our common bird, but the 
nest is not generally as 
well built, and nearly al- 
ways is made largely of 
twigs. The three or four eggs have a creamy 
or a creamy pink ground color, spotted and 
blotched with dark brown and lilac, most num- 
erously about the large end. Size 1.00 x .73. 
Tarpon Springs, Florida, May 28, 1802. Nest of twigs and weeds in a low bush. 
Collector, J. A. Southley. 
Creamy 
Gray Kingbird 
446. Couch’s Kingbird. Tyrannus melancliolicus couchi. 
Range. — Mexico, north in summer to southern Texas. 
This species is very similar to the next but the throat 
and breast are white, and the underparts a brighter yel- 
low. Like the other members of this genus, these build 
their nests in any location in trees or bushes, making them 
of twigs, weeds and moss. Their three or four eggs have 
a creamy ground with a pinkish cast and are spotted 
with brown and lilac. Size .97 x .12. 
Buff 
447. Arkansas Kingbird, 
Tyrannus verticalis. 
\ 
Range. — Western United States and southern 
British Provinces from Kansas and Minnesota 
west to the Pacific. 
This species has grayish upper parts, shad- 
ing into darker on the wings and tail, and 
lighter on the throat and upper breast; the 
underparts are yellow, and there is a concealed 
patch of orange on the crown. They are very 
abundant throughout the west, where they 
have the same familiar habits of the eastern 
species, nesting in all sorts of locations such as 
would be used by the latter. Their nests are 
made of plant fibres, weeds, string, paper or 
any trash that may be handy, being sometimes 
quite bulky. Their eggs do not differ in any 
particular from those of the eastern bird, ex- 
cept that they may average a little smaller. 
Size .95 x .65. 
283 
Arkansas Kingbird 
