Manners a?id JEconomy of the Pied Flycatcher, 331 



Art. VI. Manners and Economy of the Pied Flycatcher, By 

 John Blackwall, Esq. 



Sir, 



In directing tlie attention of the ornithological readers of 

 the Magazine of Natural History to a favourite haunt of the 

 Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa luctuosa TenimincJc) {fig* 164.)^ 

 I am not without hope that 

 some individual, who has lei- 

 sure for the undertaking, may 

 be stimulated to investigate 

 the manners and economy of 

 this interesting species, with a 

 greater degree of minuteness 

 than has hitherto been done. 

 The elucidation of several 

 doubtful points in its history could not fail to reward his 

 industry, and promote the interests of science. 



On the 3d of June last, I procured a male Pied Flycatcher 

 in the woods near the ferry-house, on the western shore of 

 Windermere, where I saw two males and a female. The fe- 

 male and one of the males had paired, and were occupied in 

 constructing a nest in a hole in a decayed pollard ash, on the 

 margin of the lake. But the vicinity of Ullswater appears to 

 be the most favoured resort of this species ; as in walking, on 

 the 1st of June, from the Water-head to Gowbarrow Old 

 Park, on the western side of the lake, a distance not exceed- 

 ing three miles, I saw, without quitting the carriage road, five 

 males at five separate stations, which were distinctly marked 

 by large pollard ashes, partially decayed. To these spots the 

 birds were evidently much attached, reluctantly retiring from 

 them to a short distance when greatly disturbed, and imme- 

 diately returning again when the cause of their alarm was 

 removed. This circumstance led me to suppose that they had 

 nests ; and as I did not observe a single female, it is probable 

 that they were engaged in incubating their eggs, or in brood- 

 ing their young. The males were all in full song, and their 

 notes, which are sometimes, though rarely, delivered on the 

 wing, are pleasing and varied. 



Ornithologists do not seem to be acquainted with the extent 

 of the vocal powers possessed by this species. According to 

 Dr. Latham {General History of Birds, \o\, vi.), Mr. Bolton, 

 the author of Harmbnia JRurdlis, has remarked that the song 

 of the male, which is heard in the breeding season, resembles 

 that of the Spotted Flycatcher, but that it is more sprightly 

 and energetic. The comparison is an unfortunate one, and 



