i8 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



PIED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa atricapilla). 



April to September. Much rarer and more local than 

 Spotted Flycatcher ; breeding sparingly in the southern 

 counties, but rather more frequently in the West, Wales, 

 and the North. 



Haunts. — Gardens, orchards, &c. 



Plumage. — Upper parts and tail black, greyer on rump 

 and browner on wings. Forehead, central wing-coverts, 

 and under parts, white. Bill and legs black. Length 

 5 in. Female : upper parts browner, and white sur- 

 faces washed with buff. Young spotted above with 

 buff, and below with dark brown. 



Language. — A far better songster than the Spotted 

 Flycatcher, song reminding one in turn vaguely of the 

 Redstart's and Chaffinch's. Alarm-note, " chick." 



Habits. — Closely resembles the Spotted Flycatcher. 



Food. — Insects chiefly ; small beetles and worms ; 

 also soft fruits. 



Nest. — May or June. One brood. 



Site. — In hole in a tree or wall, &c. ; never in an 

 exposed situation like Spotted Flycatcher. 



Materials. — Bents, rootlets, grass, leaves, and moss ; 

 lined with wool, feathers, and hair, loosely compacted. 



Eggs. — Five to nine. Uniform very pale blue. Some- 

 times faintly speckled with reddish brown. 



SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica). 



April to October. Well distributed and common, 

 except in the extreme North. 

 Haunts. — Country villages and farms. 

 Plumage. — Forehead and chin chestnut-brown. 



