EMPIDONAX FLA VIVENTRIS. 
193 
found that there was no trace of either division of the broncho-trachealis, as I consider 
this an important muscle in producing a variety of melodious sounds. 
The Yellow-bellied Flycatchers spend the summer in the forests of the more northern 
New England States, frequenting the swamps which are thickly covered with small larch 
and hemlock trees. Here they are perfectly at home but are as retiring in habit as I 
have described them during the spring migrations and, were it not for the peculiar Ice-lick 
which is occasionally heard, they would pass unnoticed. When I was at Lake Umbagog 
in June, 1878, I was confident that several pairs which I observed, had nests in the im¬ 
mediate vicinity but could not find them, and a few seasons later I searched in vain for the 
eggs both at Grand Menan and further north in New Brunswick. As the nests had been 
described by authors as being placed in trees or bushes, my search was confined to the hem¬ 
locks, larches, etc. and consequently was always unsuccessful. But my friends, Messrs. 
Purdie and Deane, were more fortunate and during the past summer, 1878, succeeded in 
procuring a nest which was placed under the shelter of the roots of an upturned tree, much 
after the manner employed by the Bridge Pewee. This was obtained at Iloulton, Maine, 
and on June fifteenth, the nest contained one egg; three days later, the entire set of four 
was deposited. Mr Purdie informs me that the structure was very pretty, especially when 
he first saw it as then the bird was sitting upon the nest and she appeared to be sucken in 
a ball of green moss. The female was not at all shy for she was approached within two 
feet before she darted off. An excellent account of this episode is given by Mr. Purdie 
in the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club for October, 1878, and is written with 
the conscientious care so characteristic of the author. I found the Yellow-bellied Fly¬ 
catchers as late as the first of June in the swamps of Pennsylvania and obtained birds in 
the nestling plumage the last week in August, so judge that they may breed there, They 
migrate early, leaving New England during the latter part of August, but they linger in 
Pennsylvania until the first of October when they shortly after disappear. 
ORDER II. ALCEDINI. KINGFISHERS. 
Sternum with four marginal indentations , the two outer of which are quite deep but the 
inner are shallow. . Bill , long and stout , with a deep gape. 
This order is characterised not only as described above, but by the long and pointed 
wings and stout form. It will be seen that I have entirely discarded the old order. Scan- 
sores , as the characters presented by the members usually placed in this group are so 
incongruous that I see no way of arranging them naturally and, in order to be perfectly 
consistent, have raised the groups hitherto considered as sections or families, to the rank 
of Orders. 
FAMILY I. CERYLIDiE. THE CRESTED KINGFISHERS. 
Head , crested. The sexes differ in markings. Legs , short. Two outer toes , joined at 
the base. 
BIRDS OP FLORIDA. 
25 
