BLACK-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. 57 



Tchitrec (to which we propose, as a specific name, 

 the very appropriate one of perspicillata\ we may 

 conclude that what Le Vaillant says of the hahits 

 of that species will he generally applicable to this 

 and to the rest. 



The sexes of the Tchitrec* , says this original oh- 

 server, are rarely seen separated during the season 

 of incubation ; they inhabit the forests, and are al- 

 ways seen on high trees, seldom if ever descending to 

 the shrubs and low bushes. The males are very pug- 

 nacious, and sometimes five or six may be seen flying 

 after each other in the season of pairing. The long 

 tail-feathers, with which the males are then adorned, 

 offers great facility to the combatants for spoiling 

 the beauty of their adversaries. It would seem, 

 from what Le Yaillant says, that they endeavour to 

 seize each other by these long plumes, and if they 

 are so fortunate as to succeed, they never loose their 

 hold until the feather is broken off or a portion of 

 it remains in their bills. Hence it becomes ex- 

 ceedingly difficult for the sportsman to procure a 

 male, at this season, with both of the two long 

 feathers completely perfect. This injury to the tail 

 is further occasioned by its being torn or mutilated 

 by the rapid flight of these birds through the boughs 

 and spiry branches, not only on the occasions just 

 alluded to, but, according to our author, from the 

 bird flying across such trees when hunting for flies, 

 which it pursues incessantly t. (Quand 1'oiseau vole 



* Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afrique, iii. pi. 206. 



j* We give the original words of this passage, because it 



