The Singing of Birds. E.P.Bickneii. 
Myiodioctes canadensis. Canadian Flycatching 
Warbler. 
^ ^ *W ff-iur 
Auk, I, July, 1884. p. «£/ 7 . 
(?Anolt> sj'pta, Jymrfry M.tn4+i£etj^4 > . 
SYLVANIA CANADENSIS. 
Canada Flycatcher. 
This is another of the species which prefer the 
higher ranges of the mountains. It was first 
seen in Monroe County on April 21st. At that 
date it was common in the valleys and borders of 
cultivated fields. In a short time their numbers 
diminished in such places, and on search I found 
them in the hard wood growth on the mountain 
sides, at about 2,1 >00 feet, where they were seen 
industriously foraging for insects. By the first 
of May scarcely any were to be found in the 
lower valleys and their Tange had extended up to 
about 4,000 feet. During the second week in May 
they appeared to be mating and were often heard 
at their best in song. In early morning a male 
would mount to some convenient limb and pour 
out his simple, pleasing melody; at the first out- 
burst of his song, other males perhaps fearing lest 
some rival would gain an advantage, would fly to 
similar positions and each would evidently strive 
to outdo his neighbor, then suddenly the concert 
would cease and they would join the females on 
the ground or lower branches, until some one 
would renew the declaration of his passion, when 
all would join in one wild-wood’s chorus. By the 
last of May these warblers were evidently settled 
for the summer, and I was surprised to note the 
extent of country they occupied, being found 
from the mountain tops down to 2,500 feet — the 
majority seeming to frequent the rhododendron 
thickets at about 8,500 feet. During the eleven 
\ years I have annually visited some portions of 
this county I have found several nests ofthis bird. 
The nest is more shabbily built than one would 
suppose such a dainty creature -would mould. 
The best specimen of their architecture I have 
ever seen was a nest composed of small leaves, 
very fine bark shreds, -with a few fine rootlets, 
and a few horse hairs. All grades from the above 
have been noticed, down to one scarcely more 
than a mere hollow, in a bunch of dry leaves, 
caught at the foot of a clump of berry bushes, 
lined with a few rootlets. The eggs are to my 
eye very handsome. A sot taken June 6, 1886, 
are white, spotted with well defined specks of 
different shades of brown, some grading into a 
purplish tint, tending to congregate into a wreath 
about the larger end. In other sets the eggs are 
spotted over the entire surface. Dimensions of 
above set: ,70x.57, ,70x.50, ,74x.54, .75.X.54. An- 
other set taken June 4, 1883, contained one pure 
white egg. Measurements of tiie set of four as 
follows: ,74x.53, .74.X.52, ,73x.52, .G9.x-.48. The 
white egg being the smallest. 
(To be continued.) 
% 
C.& O. xi. sept. watt, p. /$X- 133.. 
