Page:CooperBull1(6).djvu/6

 IO6 BULLETIN OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. even with the nest and a few kicks on the limb flushed the bird which proved to be a Buff-breasted Flycatcher. The nest was in a fork near the extremity of the limb and about twelve feet from the trunk of the tree and fifty feet front the ground. The only way the nest could be taken was by the use of a rope, of which we had plenty. One end of the rope was passed over a large limb about twenty-five feet diagonally above the nest, then pulled around until both ends met on the ground, whereupon size and shape of a Blue-gray Gnat- catcher's nest; the composition was of bits of dry. soft leaves, fine straws and rootlets with a lining of fine fibers. The bird was very bold and not easily flushed from the. rest. The usual note of this flycatcher is scarcely describable but is entirely different from that of any other fly- catcher that I have met. rhen flushed from the nest the bird will keep up a short low "chip". Another nest of this species found June I3, I896 was ple. ced in a pine tree, saddled on a large A/es/artd Elfifs o [he lu. ff-breasled Flycatcher. the boys below took up the slack and walked out until the rope passed with- in a foot or two of the nest. When everything was ready I twisted the rope around one leg and slid down even with the nest. After flushing the bird once more I peered over the edge of the nest to see the first four eggs of the Buff- breasted Flycatcher that had ever been found. After placing the eggs in my mouth I cut off the limb with my hatchet and slid down to the ground, leaving the other boys to pull the rope down and coil it up while I packed the treasures. The eggs were plain buffordull white in color and of oval shape. The nest was very compact and about the limb about four feet from the trunk of the tree and forty feet above the ground. This nest contained three eggs about two-thirds incubated and the nest and eggs did not differ from the preceding set. I found another nest on July 6, 896 also situated in a pine tree and not far from the one last mentioned. The nest was placed in a fork near the extremity of a Iarge limb, about ten feet out and thirty-five feet froin the ground. This nest was also taken by use of a.rope as described and contained three fresh eggs, but an ex- amination of the female showed that the full clutch had been laid. I did not secure any more eggs of this