17o BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



Family MUSCICAPID^. 



MUSCICAPA GRISOLA, Linnseus. 



SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 



Muscicapa grisola, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 328 (1766) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds 

 Brit. Mas. iv, p. 151; Malherbe, Cat. Bais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 9 (1846); 

 Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 187 ; id. J.f. 0. 1892, p. 387 ; Wiitaker, Ibis, 

 1895, p. 97 ; Erlanger, J.f. 0. 1899, p. 504. 



Butalis grisola, LocJie, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 61 (1867). 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Djebel Semmama, Central 

 Tunisia. 



Above hair-brown, the feathers of the crown with dark centres and pale 

 borders ; wings and tail dark hair-brown, the secondaries and wing-coverts 

 fringed on their outer margins with whitish ; underparts white, washed and 

 striped with pale hair-brown on the throat, cheeks, breast and flanks. 



Iris, bill and feet dark brown. 



Total length 5'50 inches, wing 3'50, culmen -50, tarsus '65. 



Adult female similar to the male. 



This species is chiefly noticeable in Tunisia during the spring 

 migration, but appears to be semi-resident in that country, being 

 found there in limited numbers thi-oughout the year. According to 

 M. Blanc, it nests commonly north of the Atlas, but I cannot say 

 whether it also breeds in the south of the Eegency. In Marocco, 

 however, the species apparently breeds as far south as 31° N. 

 lat., and I have examples of young birds obtained at Eas-el-Ain 

 and at Isseremont in the months of May and June. In Tripoli 

 the Spotted Flycatcher is not uncommon on passage in April and 

 May, and probably also nests in that country. During the month 

 of April, when the spring passage is at its height, these birds are 

 abundant in most parts of the Regency, and may constantly be seen 

 hawking for insects. They chiefly frequent gardens and the neighbour- 

 hood of human habitations, but numbers may also be found in the 

 woods and olive-groves when on passage. Their flight and movements 

 when engaged in pursuing flies or other small winged insects are 

 singularly light and graceful, and as the species is by no means shy it 

 may be observed at close quarters. A bare branch or fence is generally 

 selected as a point of vantage, and from this the bird will swoop down 

 swiftly upon its prey, returning immediately afterwards to the same 



