174 UEXTIROSTRES. 



coin posed of leaves, moss, or hay, and small twigs, 

 lined with hair and feathers. The female lays four 

 or five 'eggs. These birds are of small size, and weak 

 in. their general conformation; none are so large 

 as a sparrow. Their bill is flattened, and their 

 whole structure light and delicate. Their colouring, 

 thouo-h eleo^ant, is devoid of vivid tints. 



A¥e select for description — 



The Spotted Flycatcher (Musciccqm grisola). This 

 pretty little l>ird is one of our summer visitors, arriving 

 in our island in May, and departing at the close of 

 September. The Flycatcher is retired in its habits, fre- 

 quenting embowered retreats, shady gardens, orchards 

 and groves, where the foliage affords it concealment ; not, 

 indeed, that it is timid, for, if not rudely disturbed, it 

 will allow itself to be closely watched during the per- 

 formance of its aerial evolutions in pursuit of its insect 

 food. It generally chooses for its perch and observatory, 

 the bough of a fruit-tree, or one of the lower branches 

 of the elm ; whence it takes short, abrupt, circling flights, 

 returnmg to the same, or to an adjacent twig ; darting 

 in chase of its prey at almost regukir mtervals for half 

 an hour together, and returning after each flight to the 

 same post of observation. The note of the Flycatcher is 

 a weak chirp, which is seldom uttered after the appear- 

 ance of the young brood. Its nest is built in various 

 situations, as convenience may dictate ; sometimes between 

 the branch of a trained fruit-tree and the wall, or m holes 

 in the wall, hidden by foliage. It will also build in the 

 holes of aged trees, or upon the ends of beams in outhouses, 

 or, in short, in any appropriate place of concealment. The 

 eggs are five in number, of a greyish-white, marked with 

 pale orange-brown spots. When the young are able to fly, 

 the parents lead them to some branch, and supply them 

 with food ; but they soon learn to chase their own prey, 

 and become expert and quick in the pursuit. Pennant 

 and other writers state that the Flycatcher is partial 

 to cherries and various fruits ; this is unquestionably a 

 mistake ; soft insects are its only food ; but gardeners 

 seem to think that all birds devom* fruit, and frequent 

 their gardens only for that purpose. 



