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60 THE CONDOR VoL. XI (Empidonax wrig?hlii) usually held forth during my stay. Here too I could find Mexican Crested Flycatchers (A?yiarchus mexicanus) and Ash-throated Flycatchers (Myiarchus cinerascens); also examples of Myiarchus nulling?i inquielus. For a quiet Flycatcher I would choose the Fulvous (Empidonaxfulv?frons). It found a citadel in the rushes that grow along the small irrigating canals. Now for contrast, I am naming a very noisy bird, Tyrannus crassiroslris, a Kingbird with enormous bill, and pugnacious disposition; enough to make life strenuous for all hawks and ravens within its habitat. 7'. crassiroslris prefers watered bamancas, where both it and the Giraud Flycatcher (A?yio,eleles sireills supercih;osus) were nesting by the last of April. The Giraud Flycatcher is one of the few prominently marked mem- bers of this family, and has an individuality that cannot be forgotten. You need a side view, with crest erect, to judge it right. Enumerating some of the other Flycatchers I met with, there were the Cassin Kingbird (7'yrannus voczferans), found everywhere except in the pine region; Western Kingbird ( T. verticalis), occasional; Sayornis nighricans, the only Phoebe met with; Myiochanes richardsoni, favoring willow-thickets; and the Querulous Flycatcher (Myiarchus lawrencei querulus), of. the pines. This zone is much fre- quented by the Brown Flycatcher (Mitrephanes phceocercus), altho it is equally abundant in Transition. Thruout its habitat, the more open spots are favored; often sharing the field or glen with Hammond Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondi), and Western Flycatcher (/r. dz.'fficilis). There was a week in February, when these three spedes associated in enormous numbers--greater than 'those of the other feathered creatures combined. Mitrephanes is sociable for a Flycatcher. I think they have east aside that solitary disposition, notorious in the smaller tyrants. Al- ways appearing in pairs or more, they take advantage of a sunlit spot in the forest, when the plumage will strike the eye as dull crimson, rather than brown. The under mandible is very distinct on account of the wax-yellow color. A peculiar, small member of the present family, confining its operations to the larger trees in the most dense growth of higher barrancas, was identified by Mr. Nelson as Myiopagis placens' but near A?. jaliscensis of western Mexico. It bears a concealed yellow crown mark; and among the trees, appears decidedly like a Vireo. Very few of us contemplate a trip to Mexico, without forming a determination to see the Motmot (W[omolus mexicanus). The resolve is usually consummated, as the bird is well distributed in the land. Many peculiar traits create for it an in- terest never dulled by time or distance. Whatever you see when locating the Mot- mot for the initial time, will never fit itself into any bird family you' are versed in. So naturally, identity is achieved thru elimination. Motmots are quiet birds, notwithstanding their vocal possessions; sounding notes to my ear suggestive of rattling shutters. It was seldom that I found any near the city; but tramp a mile or two out, away from man and habitations, find some miniature arroyo, with a dozen or so scrubby trees grouped about, and you generally find Momotus mexicanus. It is a pretty 15ard proposition to secure an allround inspection of one. Whatever ruse is attempted to gain a front view, it ends in failure. The back of the bird is always the portion of the subject within the range of your eye. Contented be: note thelargehead; apparent lack of neck;? slim body and long tail; and, if you have a near view, the bill with saw-edges--an instrument fitted to perfection for holding the great bugs so numerous in tropical regions. Their food in part is flies, moths, katydids, and stray grasshoppers, and never .causes our subject much concern. Deliberate in preparation, his execution is as the lightning. Should one alight breast toward you after a catch, it is but the fraction of a second, ere the position be reversed.