70 MUSCICAPID^E. 



young no less than five hundred and thirty-seven times in 

 one day, beginning at twenty-five minutes before four 

 o'clock in the morning, and ending at ten minutes before 

 nine in the evening. The young birds assume the adult 

 plumage in their first year, and soon learn to hawk for 

 their prey as well as their parents. I have recorded else- 

 where an instance in which the parent birds contrived to 

 feed a disabled young one after it had left the nest.* The 

 . Flycatcher arrives in England about the end of May, and 

 leaves about the end of September. 



THE PIED FLYCATCHER 



MUSCICAPA LUCTUOSA. 



Upper plumage and tail black, the wings black, with the central coverts white ; 

 scapulars edged with white ; under plumage white. In the female the black is 

 replaced by greyish brown, the white is dingy, and the three lateral tail feathers 

 are edged with white. Length five inches. Eggs pale blue without spots. 



THE Pied Flycatcher, so called from its feathers being 

 varied with black and white, is a smaller bird than the 

 preceding, and by no means so common. It appears, 

 indeed, to be mainly confined to the northern counties of 

 England, where it arrives about the middle of April, and 

 builds its nest of dry leaves, small roots, grass, and a little 

 hair, loosely put together, in the hole of a tree. There 

 it lays from five to seven pale blue eggs, very like, both 

 in size and colour, those of the Redstart, which it also much 

 resembles in habits. It has more claim to be considered 

 a songster than the Spotted Flycatcher. In places where 

 it is frequent it is often observed to settle on the decayed 

 stump of a tree, constantly repeating its short, little varied, 

 but far from unpleasing song, every now and then inter- 

 rupted by the pursuit and capture of some passing insect. 

 It is said also to be very noisy and clamorous when its- 

 nest is approached. It quits our shores in September. 



* "Birds and Birds' Nests," S.P.C.K. 



