_Myiobius tristis._—+Mihi.+
[46] Length 6³⁄₄ inches, expanse 9¹⁄₄, flexure 2⁹⁄₁₀, tail 2³⁄₄,
rictus ¹⁷⁄₂₀, breadth at base ⁴⁄₁₀, tarsus ³⁄₄, middle toe ¹¹⁄₂₀.
Irides dark hazel; beak black above, dark brown beneath, formed as
that of the preceding. Feet greyish black. Crown deep bistre-brown,
softening on the back to a paler hue, slightly tinged with olive;
tail-coverts dark umber. Wings black; greater and mid coverts, and
secondaries edged with pale umber; the tertials have still paler
edges. Tail smoky black, each feather narrowly edged with umber.
Sides of head and neck, pale bistre. Chin, throat, and fore neck,
ashy-grey, blending on the breast with the pure straw-yellow, which
is the hue of the belly, sides, vent, and under tail-coverts. Edge
of shoulder pale buff.
A very common species, frequenting the edges of high woods and
road-sides, like the preceding, the manners of these birds being nearly
the same. It is a skilful fly-catcher, and a voracious one. I have
taken a _Libellula_ of considerable size from the stomach of one, which
not only filled that organ, but extended through the proventriculus to
the œsophagus: the head was downward, which position was of course the
most favourable for being swallowed.
When taken in the hand, it erects the crown-feathers, and snaps the
beak loudly and often, uttering shrill squeaks also, at intervals.
Its note is one of the very earliest; even before the light of day
has begun to dim the brilliancy of the morning star, this little bird
is vocal. A single wailing note, somewhat protracted, is his ordinary
voice, particularly sad to hear, but sometimes followed by one or two
short notes in another tone.
I have never met with the nest of either this or the preceding species,
but Robinson (MSS. ii. 98,) describing this bird as “the Lesser
Loggerhead of Jamaica,” says, “they have three young, generally reared
in any hollow place of a tree in June.” He adds, “they have no note;”
but in this he was in error.