PERCHING BIRDS 
454b. Lower California 
Flycatcher. Myiarchus 
cinerascens pertinax. 
Range. — Lower California. 
This sub-species is similar 
to Nutting Flycatcher but pal- 
er below and grayish above. 
455a. Olivaceous Fly 
catcher. Myiarchus 
lawrencei olivascens. 
Range. — Western Mexico, 
north to southern Arizona. 
This is the smallest of the 
genus found in the United 
States, being but 7 inches in 
length. Except for size it is 
Buffy 
Phcebe 
similar to crinitus but with 
very little, if any, rusty brown 
on tail, except for a slight 
edging on the outer web. 
Their nesting sites are the 
same as those chosen by the other Crested Flycatcher, but their eggs appear 
to have but little of the scratchy appearance of the other members. They are 
pale buffy, speckled and spotted with brown and lilac; size .80 x .60. Data. — 
Toluca, Mexico, May 20, 1895. Nest of brown hair and feathers, in hole in tree 
in woods. Collector, Fred T. Francis. 
45b. Phcebe. Sayornis plioebe. 
Range. — North America, east of the Rockies and north to Nova Scotia. 
These very common, grayish colored birds are very often known as “Bridge 
Birds’’ because of the frequency with which they construct their nests under 
bridges and arches; they also build in crevices in ledges or 
among the hanging roots near the tops of embankments, and on 
the rafters or beams of old buildings. The nests are made of 
mud, moss and grass, lined with feathers. The four or five eggs 
measure .75 x .55. Occasionally, eggs will be found that have 
a few minute spots of reddish brown. Freak situations in which 
to locate their nests are often chosen by these birds, such as w hi ti- 
the brake beam of a freight car, in the crevices of old wells, hen 
houses, etc. The birds are one of the most useful that we have; being very 
active and continually on the alert for insects and beetles that constitute their 
whole bill of fare. 
287 
