452. Myiarchus crinitus. 9 inches.

These large flycatchers are very noisy in the mating season, but their notes are rather more musical than those of the Kingbirds. They appear to be of a quarrelsome disposition, for rarely will more than one pair be found in a single piece of woods. They also frequently chase smaller birds, but never attack larger ones, as do the Kingbirds. They have a queer habit of placing a piece of snakeskin in the hole in which their nest is located, for what purpose, unless to scare away intruders, is not known, but it seems to be a universal practice.

Notes. - A clear whistle, "wit-whit," "wit-whit," repeated several times. This is the most common call; they have many others less musical.

Nest. - Of straw, etc., in holes of dead limbs. Eggs four to six in number; buffy white, streaked and blotched with brown.

Range. - Eastern N. A. from the Plains to the Atlantic, breeding north to southern Canada.