TREE BIRDS 



found nesting in so many different situations. It is 

 more at home in a tree than a blackbird, and runs 

 more swiftly over meadow or lawn, and is as much at 

 home on sea- cliffs, in marshes, or in woods as in city 

 squares. Yet the starling is certainly a great lover of the 

 walnut-trees now tardily coming into full leaf, and will 

 spend hours on a walnut perch, merrily whistling its 

 medley of notes, and clapping its castanets. 



SPOTTED flycatchers are welcome little migrants, since 

 they come so faithfully back each season to 

 The the same garden nesting-sites. Quiet in 



Faithful plumage and voice, they attract more 

 Flycatcher attention by their fly-hawking excursions 

 than many birds in gayer coats. The modest 

 flyfisher seems listless enough as it perches motionless 

 on post or rail, waiting for its prey, but always attracts 

 the eye by its manner of darting in sudden pursuit, 

 quickly returning to the perch to await the next victim. 

 Pairs or possibly one pair of spotted flycatchers have 

 been known to nest in a creeper against a house-wall 

 in nineteen Junes in succession. 



THE pied flycatcher is a rare bird in Southern England, 

 but shows a marked devotion to Wales. 

 The Pied This is a choice little bird, and in its black 

 Gallant and white dress suggests a duodecimo 

 magpie. The hen is a quiet edition of her 

 mate, and has a quiet spirit, meekly suffering the some- 

 what imperious ways of her lord ; but he will charm her 

 by his song, often compared to a redstart's. And he 

 gallantly protects her, giving battle to neighbouring 

 flycatchers which trespass on his fly-fishing preserves. 

 81 G 



