THE SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER. 259 



It is a most restless bird, ever on the move, flitting from branch to branch, or darting 

 after its winged prey with ceaseless activity. Like many predaceous creatures, it is rather 

 solitary in its habits, being generally seen singly or in pairs, or at all events in no greater 

 numbers than may be accounted for by the presence of the two parents and their young. 



There are several species closely allied to each other, which are found both in India and 

 Africa ; and even the present species was once supposed to be separated into three, the adult 

 male, the female, and the young being so different in form and color, that each was set down 

 as a distinct species. It is now known that the long-tailed birds, of whatever color they may 

 be, are the adults of either sex, while the comparatively short-tailed bird is the young male 

 or female. When these distinctions are once known, it is very easy to discriminate between 

 the birds, the white long-tailed bird being always the adult male, the reddish buff long-tailed 

 bird the adult female, and the short-tailed bird the young male or female, as the case 

 may be. 



The coloring of this species is remarkably bold and pleasing, and may be briefly described 

 as follows. 



The head and crest of the male are bright steely-green, and the whole of the upper surface 

 is pure white, curiously streaked with a narrow black line down the centre of each feather. 

 The primary quill-feathers of the wings are jetty black with a narrow edge of white, and the 

 secondaries are also black, edged with white on both webs. The beautiful tail is more than 

 double the length of the body, as it measiires thirteen or fourteen inches in length, while the 

 bird itself is only some six inches long. The color of the tail-feathers is pure white, with 

 black shafts, except the two central feathers, where the black color of the shaft only extends 

 half their length. The whole of the under surface is white. The adult female has the head 

 and neck-feathers steely-green, as in the male, but not of quite so brilliant a hue. The back 

 and tail are ruddy chestnut, the throat, breast, and nape of the neck are dark gray, and the 

 abdomea and remainder of the under parts are white. The young bird is colored like the 

 female, but the white of the abdomen is tinged with buff. 



On account of the peculiar shape of this species, it is sometimes called the Rocket Bird. 



THE PHOSBE, or PEWEE (Sayornis fuscus} is a notable favorite during the cold months in 

 New England, arriving from the south in March, frequently before the snow is gone. Wilson 

 says : " The notes of the Pewee, like those of the bluebird, are pleasing, not from any melody 

 they contain, but from the ideas of spring and returning verdure with all the sweets of this 

 lovely season which are associated with his simple but lively ditty." 



WOOD PEWEE (Contopus mrens). This is a common summer inhabitant of New Eng- 

 land, usually choosing the solitude of the deep forests for its abode. The nest of this bird is 

 always a wondrous affair, and very beautiful. There is a peculiar symmetry and cup-like 

 finish to this nest, which is only equalled by that of the humming-bird. 



Several interesting species have been found in the Northern States and on the Great 

 Plains. Since the days of Audnbon and Wilson many species have been discovered. 



THE FORK-TAILED FLY-CATCHER (Milvulus tyrannus) is occasionally found in the States 

 as far north as Pennsylvania. 



THE SCISSOR-TAIL (Milvulus forficatus) is another equally fine bird, having nearly as long 

 tail-feathers. It inhabits Mexico and Texas. It derives one of its trivial names from the fact 

 that it opens and shuts its tail as a scissors works. Its dimensions are similar to the preced- 

 ing thirteen inches in length. 



EUROPE possesses some examples of the Fly-catchers, the two birds represented, in the 

 illustration being familiar to every one who has noticed the manners and customs of native 

 birds. 



The SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER is by far the more common of the two species, and has 



