THE PIED FLYCATCHER. 291 



shorter ; 3rd to 5th emarginated outer webs. Secondaries slightly 

 shorter than 10th primary, tips almost square. Bill and other 

 structure as in Spotted Flycatcher. 



Soft parts. — Bill, legs and feet black ; iris dark brown. 



Characters and allied forms. — Male of M. h. speculigera (Tunisia, 

 Algeria) has more white at bases of 5th to 10th primaries and also 

 2nd to 4th, outer tail-feathers with no white or very little, and in 

 summer fore-head spot is larger and white on inner secondaries and 

 greater wing-coverts more extensive ; male of M. h. semitorquata 

 (Greece, Asia Minor, Persia) is much like last, but outer tail-feathers 

 with much more white than in M. h. hypoleuca. For differences 

 of M. albicollis see under that species. Distinguished from other 

 British Flycatchers by absence of streaks on breast and by white 

 margins of secondaries. 



Field-characters. — Coloration and strongly contrasted black 

 and Avhite plumage of male render him conspicuous. Habits 

 differ in several respects from Spotted Flycatcher. It seldom, if 

 ever, returns to same twig after darting out to catch an insect on 

 the wing, but usually alights on different branch and often on ground 

 or another tree. At times it clings, tit-like, to a tree-trunk for an 

 instant, and often feeds on ground. Occasionally it hovers beneath 

 a leaf to pick off an insect. Call-note is a sharp " whit," very like 

 spring note of Chaffinch. Song bearing some resemblance to 

 Redstart's, but more broken, is uttered sometimes from perch, 

 and at others during flight from tree to tree, but always with great 

 deliberation. Alarm-note " p'hweet." 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds in holes of trees or buildings, sometimes 

 close to ground, but also up to 20 ft. Old Woodpeckers' holes 

 occasionally used. Generally near water. Nest. — Loosely built 

 of strips of honeysuckle bark, moss, bents and roots, lined hair, and 

 sometimes bits of wool or feathers. Eggs. — 5 to 7, occasionally 8, 

 while 9 have been recorded ; delicate jDale blue. Continental speci- 

 mens very occasionally show fine brownish spots. Average of 100 

 eggs, 17.3x13.4 mm. Breeding-season. — Seldom before mid-May, 

 often not till last week. Incubation.— Lasts 12-13 days by hen only. 



Food. — Chiefly insects, larvae and imagines (diptera, coleoptera, 

 orthoptera, larvse of lepidoptera, and hymenoptera, especially ants). 

 Newstead records many acarids (Oribatidse). Said to have been 

 seen searching for worms on ground, and also to take berries in 

 autumn. 



Distribution. — England and Wales. — Summer-resident. Breeds 

 regularly in considerable numbers north and central Wales ; very 

 small numbers Devon and Salop ; locally north Lanes. ; more 

 commonly Westmorland and Cumberland ; exceptionally Lines. ; 

 locally north and west Ridings of Yorks. and in Durham and 

 Northumberland. Has also bred exceptionally in many other 



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