FLYCATCHERS. 133 



insects. In the winter the berries of the biirscra, or tropic birch, constitute 

 a large portion of its food. In April the Judy begins to arrange the domestic 

 economy of the season, and if the cradle of his young be not so elaborate a 

 structure as some others, it makes up in quantity what it lacks in quality. On 

 a branch of a small cedar that overhangs the high road," says Mr. Gosse, "I 

 had noticed, early in June, what appeared to be a heap of straw tossed up by 

 a fork and lodged there, which the action of the weather had in some degree 

 smoothed at the top, the ends trailing downwards. One day, however, as I 

 was looking at it, 1 saw the brown female of this species einerge from the 

 bottom, and presently return, entering at a narrow hole beneath. As it was 

 not more than twelve feet from the ground, 1 immediately sent my lads to 

 climb the tree and cut the branch, which they accordingly brought mc, with 

 the huge nest attached. The boys reported that it was empty, and that it had 

 four entrances ; but on examination I found that every one of these was merely 

 a hollow in the immense walls, produced by the receding of one part of the 

 loose materials from* another. While they held it up in the position it had 

 occupied on the tree, I searched beneath for the true entrance, which, when I 

 had found it, 1 had much difficulty to find again, so concealed was it among 

 the draggling ends of the mass. On inserting my finger, however, I felt the soft 

 and warm plumage of young birds, and pulled out three almost fully fledged." 

 The nest was a prodigious oblong mass, flattened on two sides, measuring in 

 height about two feet and a half, though the ends hung down to the length of 

 four feet ; in width more than two feet, and in thickness one foot. It was com- 

 posed almost entirely of the stems and tendrils of passion flowers, mixed, how- 

 ever, and that all through the structure, with bright yellow silky spiders' nests 

 and the downy filaments of some cottony herbs. The cavity was not larger 

 than a man's two fists, and was not in any way lined ; the entrance, as we 

 have already remarked, faced the ground. 



Sub-Family V. 



THE FLYCATCHERS PROPER. MUSCICAPIN.^. 



General Characteristics. — Bill moderate, broad at the base and narrowing to the 

 tip, which is emarginated ; the culmen more or less depressed, and curved at the 

 end; the gonys usually long and ascending, and more or less pointed; the tarsi 

 usually short and slender, and the toes short, with the outer toe longer than the 

 inner one, the hind toe prominent ; and the claws moderate, compressed, and acute. 



The true Flycatchers are found in most parts of the old con- 

 tinent. They appear in the temperate regions during the winter, 

 and retire to the colder climates during the summer, mostly fre- 

 quenting wooded districts, cultivated grounds, gardens, and or- 

 chards. Their food consists entirely of insects, which they watch 

 for, seated on a decaying bough or post, and catch on the wing 



