Nesting of Olive-sided Flycatcher. 
The above named, though not common, are 
yet regular visitors during the summer 
months, and are found frequenting the old 
clearings and open places in the country. 
They may be seen perched on the tiptop of 
some old rampike, tall spruces, or out on the 
end of a dead limb of some hardwood tree, and 
are easily distinguished from other birds by 
their upright position on the branches, and 
their peculiar cry of two, two, two, two, two, 
two, the last sound being sharper and longer 
drawn out than the first. When on the wing 
and darting after insects, from the top of one 
tree to the other, their flight is almost identi- 
cal with that of the cedar bird, and at a dis- 
tance, one very apt to be confounded with this 
latter species. 
Three different pairs of these Flycatchers 
came under my observation during the months 
o f June and .July last, hence follow in g remarks - 
The first nest I found was on 21st of June. 
I had watched the old birds prior to this for 
three different days, but failed to discover the 
nest. I had a pretty good idea about where it 
was situated, and this time getting under 
cover I kept my eyes on the birds. Pretty 
soon the $ darted off towards some tall black 
spruces, and failing to reappear I walked up, 
and taking a position where I could command 
the different trees I discharged one barrel of 
my gun, when out she darted from near the 
top of a tall black spruce over to my right. 
Going over I walked round and round the tree, 
searching closely the branches overhead, and 
shortly spotted what X took to be the nest 
placed way out on one of the limbs and about 
fifty feet up from where I stood. I started up 
the tree, and after getting up about half way 
took another look at what 1 supposed to be 
the nest, and examining it carefully came to 
the conclusion that it was an old last year’s, so 
slid down the tree, got under cover again and 
waited for the ? to show up, ruminating 
meanwhile on the uncertainties of this life and 
the finding of Olive-sided Flycatchers’ nests in 
particular. In a little while the $> showed up, 
and shortly, much to my surprise, she lit on 
the limb close to my “last year’s nest,” and 
with a hop and a skip disappeared within. I 
dropped a few remarks, and straightway began 
to reascend the tree. Arriving on a level 
with the nest I found it was too far out on the 
branch to get at, and the limb not strong 
enough to carry me, so going above it I looked 
down and there I saw three beautiful white 
eggs, marked with red and brown spots laying 
in a very rough, flat kind of a nest. I then 
got down to the limb and, thinking things 
over, a grand idea for the rescue of the nest 
came with such a rush upon me that if I had 
not a firm grip upon the limb I verily believe 
that I should have been tumbled to the earth 
below. The “idea” that came so near ter- 
minating my brief existence upon this terres- 
trial globe was very simple. I should cut off 
the limb and lift it with the nest, in towards 
me. So at it I went, and just as I got the 
blessed limb about cut through it suddenly 
bent down and away went the three eggs out 
of the nest and scattered to the four winds 
(like the flour in the story of “Hard Times”). 
Gasping for air, and allowing the tears to fall 
unchecked, I caught myself by the back of the 
neck with one hand and with the other low- 
ered myself from limb to limb to the earth 
below, kicking myself as I went and praying 
at the same time. Arriving on the ground, I 
June 25. To woods all day. I started 
out to look for Olive-sided Flycatcher’ s Ww ' 
nest, as I had located a pair of the birds 
on the 8th. After I got on the ground ^ ° w ^ 
I started in, and in just three hours I had * V J‘ 
the nest. (I always time myself to see how ir,h , 
long it takes.) It took me a long timeir 3 '' 
to get at the ? and a longer time to locate 
the nest, for the simple reason that I was 
looking for it way up on the big high 
spruces where I had found them last 
year, whereas this particular nest was up 
about feet, out on the limb of a small 
black spiuce situated in a swamp. I 
passed the nest onDj^oing up the tree, and 
saw it on the way down. The nest is the 
finest I have ever taken, being a fine large 
one, well and compactly built, and is very 
gathered up my traps, and, walking over the ! P ose d of limbs of black 
dog, left for home, a sadder and a wiser man. rd completely lined with 
Next day, the 22d, on thinking the matter mt hangs from the dead 
over I came to the conclusion that I had acted hree beautiful of 
rather hastily, and determining to secure 6,6 
another nest I started out. After knocking >tted at lal ger end With 
about for some little time I spotted a bird b r ed and brown spots, 
perched up on top of an old dead tree, sitting t flying about me while 
up straight as an arrow, and every now and nest, but I did not dis- 
again getting off in good form his hearty cry Js( . that th bui]d 
of two, two, etc. Getting up closer I watched ^ J 
that bird from 3 o’clock in the afternoon r J oun g 111 P ea ce. 
until 6.30, and examined carefully every tall > the woods this morn- 
tree (spruce) in the vicinity, discharging at ther pair of the Qlive- 
intervals my gun, but failed to make the ? hat j had noticed ab^t 
show up. On the 23d I spent the day watching 
this particular bird, and this time the ? was ha d moved away, and 
on hand, but in spite of all my efforts and I went over a good 
knowing the nest must be close by I failed md in search of others, 
entirely to locate it, and wishing the birds a jg species are rare and 
fond adieu, retired. Ind ; n th ; s v j cinity> 
July 2d I started out again, and after walk- J 
ing for quite a while came across another 
“Olive-sided” occupying a dignified position s on to-day; took 
on the top of a tall spruce tree. After watch- - ^catcher, with two 
ing for some time and he confining his flight nd building on 18th 
to three trees in close proximity I concluded of Sudbury, Mass 
the abiding place of his better half was close j dm ’ ss ’’ 
by. Getting close to the trees I discharged $ 1 bef °re 
my gun, and was promptly rewarded by see- J* 1 JleJ d no eggs. • 
ing the £ come out from one of the trees to * y e days to complete 
my left. Going close to the tree and getting eggs, and as they 
under cover I waited for the $ to return, and [ concluded the set 
point out the way to her nest. In a short 
time she came back, and flying into the tree 
that I was watching disappeared in one of its 
branches. I then walked underneath the tree 
and gazing up began to scan the branches, but 
not being able to see the nest I stood out from 
the tree and discharged my gun again when 
away darted the ?, and this time showing the 
limb, and way out on the end of it the nest. 
Going up the tree I found on reaching the nest 
that it was placed on the end of a smaller 
branch that shot out from the main limb, and 
was even harder to get at than the one found 
June 21st, so going above the nest and looking 
down I saw that it held three eggs, but having 
no means of securing them, got down the tree 1 
and left, intending to return. 
July 3d found me once more underneath the 
tree with a tiny flannel dip net rigged on a 
good, long, light pole (a la Bishop style, Kent- 
ville), when, slinging my collecting box, full of 
cotton wool, over my shoulders and taking 
dip net in one hand, 1 proceeded carefully to 
mount th e tree, and going above the nest an(L 
working out on limbs, as far as I dared, I was I 
just able to reach the nest with the net, and 
carefully pushing it in the nest and underneath 
the eggs I had the satisfaction of seeing them 
disappear within, and in a few seconds they 
were in my possession and wrapped in the 
wool, and packed away in the collecting box. 
Then knocking the nest off with the net and 
dropping both to the ground, I was soon with 
them, right side up, and this time with my I 
eggs and nest safe and sound. Then shooting | 
the $. I left for home. 
The nest is a very crude and shallow affair 
| made of rootlets and twigs and lined very j 
slightly with a little long, gray moss. The 
nest measures 2)4 inches on the inside, 3)4 
inches outside, and 1)4 inches deep. The eggs 
are very pretty, having a yellowish-white 
ground with pale and dark reddish-brown 
spots. Both nests were built on black spruce 
j rees Harry Austen. 
Halifax,-*;. Svy ’ie'.i AlS- ) ‘f h /Y 3 - 
1 V* ’ 
