PIED FLYCATCHER 25 



The birds never enlarge or alter a hole in any 

 way ; indeed, except with the most friable and 

 rotten wood, that would be a proceeding utterly 

 beyond their capabilities. Each pair is constant for 

 life, if one may judge from the fact that the same 

 dwelling is used annually, until, in fact, an ac- 

 cumulation of ancient nests has well nigh reached 

 to the entrance, when a fresh hollow is perforce 

 chosen in its vicinity. For, although vastly 

 attached to its home, the Pied Flycatcher very 

 seldom removes the old nest debris, and from 

 various Woodpeckers' holes to specialize I have 

 unearthed these dilapidated tenements to the num- 

 ber of a score. Although I have seen a male gather, 

 toy with, but drop a piece of building-fabric, the 

 female alone constructs the nest, while he serenades 

 her continuously from a branch hard-by, and some- 

 time accompanies her when she goes in search of 

 material. 



The nest completed in from six to nine days 

 is loosely built, somewhat untidy and rather 

 rough. Its general composition is of dried grass 

 (often cotton-grass) and dead leaves, those of the 

 oak, birch, and alder predominating, lined with 

 finer dried grass. Sometimes a little moss or dead 

 bracken occurs in the foundation, sometimes a little 

 horse-hair in strands in the lining ; but in the 

 numerous nests I have examined, never yet has a 

 single feather been present, despite the fact of 

 many having been within easy touch of a farmstead, 



