LEAST FLYCATCHER, 379 
which the great number of these bunches afford. No bird is more wary 
when its nest is approached, quitting it as soon as an intruder approaches 
within a dozen yards. I have very seldom been able to discover the fe- 
male on the nest, but when disturbed she retires to a safe distance and 
utters a plaintive whit, expressive of her anxiety. During the breed- 
ing season the ordinary notes undergo some change, becoming a louder, 
deeper, hoyt-te-ar. 
EMPIDONAX MINIMUS Baird. 
| least Mlycatcher. 
Tyrannus acadicus, (in part?), READ, Family Visitor, iii, 1853, 359; Prec. Phila. Acad., vi; 
1853, 395. 
Empidonax minimus, BAIRD, P. R. R. Rep., ix, 1858, 196.—KiRKPATRICK, Ohio Farmer, ix, 
1860, 35.—WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 362, 373; Reprint, 1861, 4, 15; Food 
of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric, Rep. for 1874, 568; Reprint, 1875, 8.—LANGDON, Cat. 
Birds of Cin., 1877, 10; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 177; Re- 
print, 11; Summer Birds, ib., iii, 1880, 225.—DuryY and FREEMAN, Obs., ib., iii, 
1880, —, Reprint, 4. 
Tyrannus acadicus, NUTTALL, i, 1840, 320. 
Tyrannula minima, W. M. and S. F. Barrp, Proc. Phila. Acad., i, 1843, 284. 
- Empidonax minimus, BAIRD, Birds N. Am., 1853, 195. 
,Colors almost exactly as in Trailli; usually, however, olive-gray rather than olive- 
brown ; the wing-markinge, eye-ring and loral feathers plain grayish-white; the whole 
anterior parts often with a slight ashy cast; under mandible ordinarily dusky; feet 
black. It is a smaller bird than Jrailli, and not so stoutly built ; the wing-tip projects 
only about 4 an inch beyond the secondaries; the 5th quill is but very little shorter 
than the 4th, the 1st apt to be nearer the 6th than5th; the feetare differently propor- 
tioned, being much as in acadicus; the billis obviously under 4inch long. Length, 5- 
5.259; wing, 2.60 or less; tail about 2.25. 
Habitat, Eastern North America to the high central plains; up the Missouri to Fort 
Union. Winters in Central America. 
Common spring and fall migrant in May and September. Frequents 
edges of woods and thickets, and is often seenin gardens. Its note while 
with us is a short, low whit, repeated as the bird Te coral pursues 
his winged prey. 
The Least Flycatcher breeds from Southern New England northward. 
Dr. Merriam has taken its nest in Northern New York, and it may breed 
in Northern Ohio, as Mr. Langdon found the bird in Ottawa county about 
the first of July. 
The nest is a neat structure of fibres of bark and grasses, lined with 
plant-down and hair, and placed in an upright fork of a sapling within 
afew feet of the ground. The eggs are pure white without spots. They 
measure .65 by .50. | 
