THE FLY -CATCHEKS. 



Iu9 



A more sequestered scene is nowhere found, 

 P'or contemplation deep and silent thought profound." 



In this ea\o he know the pewit to build lor several years, but at length its retirement 

 was disturbed by a murderous assault upon the feathered tenants of the solitude, and the 

 spot was no longer occupied by any of the race. 



This bird is six inches and a half in length ; the upper parts are of a dusky olive, the 

 wings and tail are of a dusky colour, and the lower parts are a pale, delicate yellow. Its 

 arrival among the people of many of the northern districts is regarded as a sure indica- 

 tion "of the return of mild weather, and they are admonished at that time to plant 

 various kinds of esculent vegetables without fear of injury accruing to them from the 

 recurrence of frosts. 



The .Spotted fly-catcher* arrives in England near the end of 3Iay, and leaves it 

 towards the end of September. It is found chieflj' in the low districts, especially of the 



HEAD OF CEPIIALOPTEKUS. 



south of England, and its numbers diminish as we reach more northern latitudes. It is 

 a quiet bird, sober in its plixmage, coming near the dwellings of men, and unostenta- 

 tiouslj- pursuing its avocations of ridding our gardens, copses, and orchards of innumerable 

 flics. The nest is formed of fibres and moss, and is lined with hair, wool, or feathers 

 and it is usually so placed as to be sheltered from the weather, this appearino- to be 

 regarded as more important than concealment from observation. In fact, the spots in 

 which it sometimes biulds are anything but adapted for secresy. The frequent selection 

 by this bird of a beam in an outbuilding has suggested the name by which it is some- 

 times designated, while the branch of a tree is not an uncommon locality. In one case 

 the head of a garden rake, which was left near a cottage, was rendered aA-ailable as the 

 foundation for a nest ; in another a pair of birds biult their nest iu a bird-cage, which 

 liad been left hanging from a tree in a garden ; while, in two instances — one of which 



* Muscicapa Grisola. 



