510 AVES— FLYCATCHER. 



THE RED-EYED FLYCATCHER* 



Is the most distinguishable of all the warblers of our forests ; it has a 

 loud, lively, and energetic song; which it continues sometimes for an hour 

 without intermission, as it hunts among the thick foliage. Its notes are in 

 short emphatical bars, of two, three, or four syllables. In Jamaica, where 

 this bird winters, it is called whip-tom-kelly, from an imagined resemblance 

 of its notes to these words. 



This bird builds a neat, pensile nest, between two twigs of a young dog- 

 wood, or other young sapling. It is hung by the two upper edges, and formed 

 of pieces of hornets' nests, some flax, fragments of withered leaves, slips of 

 pine bark, and bits of paper, all glued together by the saliva of the bird and 

 the silk of caterpillars ; lined with fibrous bark, grass, and hair. These 

 nests are very durable, and selected by the cow-bird as one of the numerous 

 receptacles for her egg; the red-eyed flycatcher showing as much solicitude 

 for the young foundling as if it were her own. This bird is five inches and 

 a half long ; the plumage is yellow olive above; the under parts are white; 

 the crown is ash, bordered with black. The iris of the eye is red. 



The red-eyed flycatcher is common throughout the United States, and is 

 an inhabitant of the city as well as the .forest. On a fine summer's day, 

 his lively notes may be heard among the branches of the elms on Boston 

 common. 



THE YELLOW-THROATED FLYCATCHERS 



Is found chiefly in the woods, hunting among the high branches ; and has 

 an indolent and plaintive note, which it repeats with some little variation 

 every ten or twelve seconds, like preeo, preea, &c. It is often heard in com- 

 pany with the preceding ; the loud, energetic notes of the latter, mingling 

 with the soft, languid warble of the former, producing an agreeable effect, 

 particularly during the burning heat of noon, when almost every other 

 songster but these two is silent. Its nest is built on a tree, and composed 

 of strips of bark, of grape-vines, moss, lichens, &c, and lined with fibres. 

 Winged insects are its principal food. 



This bird is five inches and a half long ; the head and back of a fine yellow 

 olive; the throat and breast a fine lemon color; the under parts are silky 

 white; wings almost black, crossed with two white bars. 



1 Muscicapa olivacea, Lin. s Muscicapa sylvicola, Wilson. 



