SPOTTED GREY FLYCATCHER. 521 



Changes of Plumage. — This bird arrives in full plumage, 

 with the feathers entire. As the season advances, the tips of 

 the feathers are abraded, when those of the head become pointed 

 and the brown spots then are more apparent ; the upper parts 

 in general become paler, and the light margins of the quills 

 narrower. 



Habits. — The Spotted Flycatcher arrives from the middle 

 to the end of May, and is generally distributed both in England 

 and Scotland, but is less common in the latter country, although 

 in some districts there it is by no means scarce. It occurs only 

 in wooded parts, frequenting plantations, low bushy hollows, 

 orchards, and gardens. Its flight is rapid and undulated, but 

 it is seldom observed to fly to a great distance. It glides among 

 the twigs in pursuit of insects, perches with ease on trees, walls, 

 and other eminences, sometimes settles on the ground, where it 

 moves by short leaps, and may often be seen making excursions 

 on wing from a tree in the manner of the Chats and Redstart, 

 and returning to its station, to sally forth again when an insect 

 passes near. This is its favourite mode of seizing its prey, 

 which consists exclusively of insects of various kinds. In Au- 

 gust and September, when its young have come abroad, it ac- 

 companies them into the woods, and continues there until its 

 departure, which takes place in the beginning of October. On 

 the 5th of September 1832, I met with a large flock of these 

 Flycatchers in a fir wood about five miles below Tushielaw in 

 Ettrick ; but, from the few opportunities which I have had of 

 observing them late in the season, am unable to say whether 

 they usually collect in numbers previous to their departure. On 

 this occasion they were searching for food on the ground, 

 among the moss and decayed leaves, and betook themselves to 

 the trees only on being disturbed. This circumstance was no 

 doubt owing to the vast number of insects, and especially of 

 ants, which swarmed on the ground ; but in general the Fly- 

 catcher is not apt to betake itself to such a mode of feeding. It 

 is pleasing to watch it when it has stationed itself on a twig, 

 whence, on the approach of an insect, it glides after it, and 

 having seized it with a snapping noise, returns to the same or 



