0LI VE-S1DED FL YCA TCHER. 
177 
under wing coverts, thickly streaked with olivaceous-slaty. Upper mandible, dark-brown, under, yellow, darker at tip. 
Feet, black. 
Young of the year in autumn. Similar to the adult but more strongly tinged with yellow below, the wing bars show 
a tinging of rufous and the under mandible is dark-brown. 
Nestlings. Are more olivaceous above. The white of the wings is replaced by rufous. Under portions, inclined to 
buff. Bill, dark-brown, yellow at base of lower mandible. Sexes, similar in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
There is but little variation in plumage in specimens of the same age. Readily known from all allied species by the 
large size and olivaceous markings below as well as by the greater proportionate length of wing. The descriptions of the 
younger stages are from specimens in the cabinet of Mr. Wm. Brewster. Distributed in summer from.Massachusetts, north¬ 
ward. Winters south of the United States. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of seven specimens from New England. Length, 7'62; stretch, 12'92; wing, 4'00; tail, 2'82; 
bill, '60; tarsus, ‘64. Longest specimen, 7'74; greatest extent of wing, 13'50; longest wing, 4'20; tail, 2 - 09; bill, '71; 
tarsus, '98. Shortest specimen, 7'50; smallest extent of wing, 12*45; shortest wing, 3'80; tail, 2'74; bill, '65; tarsus, '60. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in trees, composed of sticks and weeds, lined with fine roots. Dimensions, external diameter, 4'00, inter¬ 
nal, 2'00. External depth, 2'00, internal, l'OO. 
Eggs, three to four in number, oval in form, salmon colored, spotted and blotched with yellowish-brown, umber and 
lilac. Dimensions from '75 x '60 to '85 x '65. 
HABITS. 
The last Flycatcher described was a member of the avi-fauna of the extreme southern 
portion of the United States and now we will turn to one which inhabits the more north¬ 
ern section of the Union. In many parts of Maine and New Hampshire, clearings are 
made in the primitive woods by cutting away the smaller growth of timber, but the larger 
trees are merely girdled. A belt of bark of greater or less width is removed completely 
around the trunk, after which the trees soon die but are left standing until they decay. 
These gigantic spruces and hemlocks which have required centuries to come to maturity, 
do not quickly succumb to the destroying elements but the bark soon falls away and the 
exposed wood becomes whitened by the sun and air. They will last for years and portions 
of forests thus treated are called deadnings, a suggestive name, for these leafless giants 
stretching their withered and whitened limbs over the despoiled soil, strongly remind one 
of tombstones in a cemetery. The Olive-sided Flycatchers, however, do not appear to 
regard them in such a melancholy light, but look upon them as convenient roosting places 
and whenever one of these clearings occur on the side of a mountain or other rising ground, 
the loud whistling notes of these birds may be heard. If the deadnings be large, there 
may be two pairs but usually there is only one, for, like the other members of this family, 
the Olive-sided Flycatchers are very quarrelsome and will not permit any birds, much less 
one of the same species, to settle very near them. 
The notes of these birds are very loud, fully equalling those of the Great Crested Fly¬ 
catchers, if not exceeding them. The ordinary call slightly resembles the plaintive pe-wee 
of the Wood Pewee, but is so much harsher and is given with so much emphasis that the 
similarity is scarcely perceived upon hearing the cry, but comes as an after-thought. Be¬ 
sides this comparatively gentle strain, the Olive-sided Flycatchers utter some loud whistles 
when alarmed that may be heard at a great distance. 
23 
BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 
