453. Myiarchus magister magister. 9½ inches.
The throat and breast are lighter than the previous bird, and the under parts are paler yellow. Its nesting habits are the same as above even to including the piece of snakeskin, or in place of it part of a lizard skin will answer their purpose.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER.
454. Myiarchus cinerascens. 8½ inches.
A much more quiet bird than either of the above, in looks as well as in actions. The upper parts are grayish brown, while the under parts, breast and throat are almost white. They build their nests in the giant cactus or in holes of stumps, lining the cavity with roots and grass or bits of rubbish of almost any kind, and generally include the piece of snake skin as do the ones above.
SAY PHŒBE.
457. Sayornis sayus. 8 inches.
The Phoebe is a bird that will select for its nesting place the heavy beam of some old bridge, or in some old mill where the timbers are falling down, and place its nest in some dark corner, building it of mud, moss and grasses lined with feathers, or in some localities the nests may be placed in the crevice of some cliff or ledge where they lay four or five white eggs, rarely dotted with brown.
It is slightly larger than the eastern variety, with the under parts showing more of a brownish color, and is found breeding from the Arctic to Lower California.