SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 217 



MUSCICAPA GRISOLA, SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 



M. grisola, Linn. Sfc. Spotted Flycatcher of 

 British authors. The Spotted Flycatcher is the 

 most abundant of the two British species, being 

 very commonly distributed over England, and 

 extending to the very north of Scotland, though 

 it decreases in frequency as it reaches the extre- 

 mity of the latter. It frequents gardens and 

 lawns, and seems to draw near to cultivation. In 

 Scotland, it may be often seen by the side of 

 some sub-alpine stream with precipitous banks, 

 and here, perhaps, are its more natural haunts 

 and breeding place, those in the garden and 

 the lawn being its more artificial state. In the 

 former locality, the nest is placed against the 

 stem of some old tree, or on the shelf of a rock, 

 always, however, with a support on the one side. 

 The approach to it is betrayed by the shrill 

 monotonous note or click of the parents. They 

 take up their stations, and do not remove far 

 from them, and in general select the top of some 

 bare branch as their favourite perch, where they 

 sit motionless, or dart on and pursue the passing 

 insects. These are frequently taken at a single 

 dart, but are also sometimes pursued for a few 

 yards, and when seized carried to the perch, and 

 always held for a few seconds in the bill. We 

 have frequently seen bees taken, but they do not 

 seem to be in any way particularly sought after 

 or hunted, though in some districts the bird has 

 obtained the provincial appellation of " Bee Bird." 



